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Daghighi A, Casanola-Martin GM, Iduoku K, Kusic H, González-Díaz H, Rasulev B. Multi-Endpoint Acute Toxicity Assessment of Organic Compounds Using Large-Scale Machine Learning Modeling. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:10116-10127. [PMID: 38797941 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c01017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
In recent years, alternative animal testing methods such as computational and machine learning approaches have become increasingly crucial for toxicity testing. However, the complexity and scarcity of available biomedical data challenge the development of predictive models. Combining nonlinear machine learning together with multicondition descriptors offers a solution for using data from various assays to create a robust model. This work applies multicondition descriptors (MCDs) to develop a QSTR (Quantitative Structure-Toxicity Relationship) model based on a large toxicity data set comprising more than 80,000 compounds and 59 different end points (122,572 data points). The prediction capabilities of developed single-task multi-end point machine learning models as well as a novel data analysis approach with the use of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) are discussed. The results show that using MCDs significantly improves the model and using them with CNN-1D yields the best result (R2train = 0.93, R2ext = 0.70). Several structural features showed a high level of contribution to the toxicity, including van der Waals surface area (VSA), number of nitrogen-containing fragments (nN+), presence of S-P fragments, ionization potential, and presence of C-N fragments. The developed models can be very useful tools to predict the toxicity of various compounds under different conditions, enabling quick toxicity assessment of new compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amirreza Daghighi
- Department of Coatings and Polymeric Materials, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota 58102, United States
- Biomedical Engineering Program, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota 58102, United States
| | - Gerardo M Casanola-Martin
- Department of Coatings and Polymeric Materials, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota 58102, United States
| | - Kweeni Iduoku
- Department of Coatings and Polymeric Materials, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota 58102, United States
- Biomedical Engineering Program, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota 58102, United States
| | - Hrvoje Kusic
- Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, University of Zagreb, Marulicev Trg 19, Zagreb 10000, Croatia
| | - Humberto González-Díaz
- Department of Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, University of Basque Country UPV/EHU, Leioa 48940, Spain
- BIOFISIKA, Basque Center for Biophysics CSIC-UPVEH, Leioa 48940, Spain
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science,Bilbao, Biscay 48011, Spain
| | - Bakhtiyor Rasulev
- Department of Coatings and Polymeric Materials, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota 58102, United States
- Biomedical Engineering Program, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota 58102, United States
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Wu F, Wang Z, Li X, Wang X. Amide herbicides: Analysis of their environmental fate, combined plant-microorganism soil remediation scheme, and risk prevention and control strategies for sensitive populations. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 460:132452. [PMID: 37683346 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we predicted the environmental fate of amide herbicides (AHs) using the EQC (EQuilibrium Criterion) model. We found that the soil phase is the main reservoir of AHs in the environment. Second, a toxicokinetic prediction indicated that butachlor have a low human health risk, while the alachlor, acetochlor, metolachlor, napropamide, and propanil are all uncertain. To address the environmental and human-health-related threats posed by AHs, 27 new proteins/enzymes that easily absorb, degrade, and mineralize AHs were designed. Compared with the target protein/enzyme, the comprehensive evaluation value of the new proteins/enzymes increased significantly: the absorption protein increased by 20.29-113.49%; the degradation enzyme increased by 151.26-425.22%; and the mineralization enzyme increased by 23.70-52.16%. Further experiments revealed that the remediating effect of 13 new proteins/enzymes could be significantly enhanced to facilitate their applicability under real environmental conditions. The hydrophobic interactions, van der Waals forces, and polar solvation are the key factors influencing plant-microorganism remediation. Finally, the simulations revealed that appropriate consumption of kiwifruit or simultaneous consumption of ginseng, carrot, and spinach, and avoiding the simultaneous consumption of maize and carrot/spinach are the most effective means reduce the risk of exhibiting AH-linked toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuxing Wu
- College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Zini Wang
- College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Xinao Li
- Moe Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental System Optimization, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China.
| | - Xiaoli Wang
- College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China.
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Ding TT, Liu SS, Wang ZJ, Huang P, Gu ZW, Tao MT. A novel equal frequency sampling of factor levels (EFSFL) method is applied to identify the dominant factor inducing the combined toxicities of 13 factors. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 175:107940. [PMID: 37119652 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The research framework combining global sensitivity analysis (GSA) with quantitative high-throughput screening (qHTS), called GSA-qHTS, provides a potentially feasible way to screen for important factors that induce toxicities of complex mixtures. Despite its value, the mixture samples designed using the GSA-qHTS technique still have a shortage of unequal factor levels, which leads to an asymmetry in the importance of elementary effects (EEs). In this study, we developed a novel method for mixture design that enables equal frequency sampling of factor levels (called EFSFL) by optimizing both the trajectory number and the design and expansion of the starting points for the trajectory. The EFSFL has been successfully employed to design 168 mixtures of 13 factors (12 chemicals and time) that each have three levels. By means of high-throughput microplate toxicity analysis, the toxicity change rules of the mixtures are revealed. Based on EE analysis, the important factors affecting the toxicities of the mixtures are screened. It was found that erythromycin is the dominant factor and time is an important non-chemical factor in mixture toxicities. The mixtures can be classified into types A, B, and C mixtures according to their toxicities at 12 h, and all the types B and C mixtures contain erythromycin at the maximum concentration. The toxicities of the type B mixtures increase firstly over time (0.25 ∼ 9 h) and then decrease (12 h), while those of the type C mixtures consistently increase over time. Some type A mixtures produce stimulation that increases with time. With the present new approach to mixture design, the frequency of factor levels in mixture samples is equal. Consequently, the accuracy of screening important factors is improved based on the EE method, providing a new method for the study of mixture toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting-Ting Ding
- Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, PR China
| | - Shu-Shen Liu
- Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, PR China.
| | - Ze-Jun Wang
- National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Municipal Sewage Resource Utilization Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, PR China
| | - Peng Huang
- Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China
| | - Zhong-Wei Gu
- Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, PR China
| | - Meng-Ting Tao
- Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, PR China
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Chormare R, Kumar MA. Environmental health and risk assessment metrics with special mention to biotransfer, bioaccumulation and biomagnification of environmental pollutants. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 302:134836. [PMID: 35525441 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The environment pollutants, which are landed up in environment because of human activities like urbanization, mining and industrializations, affects human health, plants and animals. The living organisms present in environment are constantly affected by the toxic pollutants through direct contact or bioaccumulation of chemicals from the environment. The toxic and hazardous pollutants are easily transferred to different environmental matrices like land, air and water bodies such as surface and ground waters. This comprehensive review deeply discusses the routes and causes of different environmental pollutants along with their toxicity, impact, occurrences and fate in the environment. Environment health and risk assessment tools that are used to evaluate the harmfulness, exposure of living organisms to pollutants and the amount of pollutant accumulated are explained with help of bio-kinetic models. Biotransfer, toxicity factor, biomagnification and bioaccumulation of different pollutants in the air, water and marine ecosystems are critically addressed. Thus, the presented survey would be collection of correlations those addresses the factors involved in assessing the environmental health and risk impacts of distinct environmental pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rishikesh Chormare
- Process Design and Engineering Cell, CSIR-Central Salt & Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Bhavnagar, 364 002, Gujarat, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Ghaziabad, 201 002, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Madhava Anil Kumar
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Ghaziabad, 201 002, Uttar Pradesh, India; Analytical and Environmental Science Division & Centralized Instrument Facility, CSIR-Central Salt & Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Bhavnagar, 364 002, Gujarat, India.
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Removal of Chloroacetanilide Herbicides from Water Using Heterogeneous Photocatalysis with TiO2/UV-A. Catalysts 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/catal12060597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Chloroacetanilide herbicides are widely used in the agricultural sector throughout the world. Because of their poor biodegradability, high water solubility, and long persistence, chloroacetanilide herbicides have a high potential to contaminate water, and conventional water treatment processes do not ensure sufficient removal. Therefore, heterogeneous photocatalysis using TiO2/UV-A was investigated for the degradation of alachlor, acetochlor, and metolachlor from water. Two commercially available TiO2 (P25 and AV-01) were used as photocatalysts. Different experimental setups were also tested. In addition, the toxicity of single herbicides and mixtures of their photocatalytic degradation products to the freshwater alga Chlorella kessleri was investigated via a growth inhibition test. The maximum removal efficiency for alachlor, acetochlor, and metolachlor was 97.5%, 93.1%, and 98.2%, respectively. No significant differences in the removal efficiency of chloroacetanilide herbicides were observed for the photocatalysts used. Although the concentrations of all herbicides during photocatalysis decreased, the toxicity of the resulting mixtures of degradation products increased or remained the same, indicating the formation of toxic degradation products.
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Wang Y, Zhu YC, Li W, Yao J, Reddy GVP, Lv L. Binary and ternary toxicological interactions of clothianidin and eight commonly used pesticides on honey bees (Apis mellifera). ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2021; 223:112563. [PMID: 34343900 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Although many toxicological evaluations have been conducted for honey bees (Apis mellifera), most of these studies have only focused on the effects of individual chemicals. However, honey bees are usually exposed to pesticide mixtures under field conditions. In this study, we examined the effects of individual pesticides and mixtures of clothianidin (CLO) with eight other pesticides [carbaryl (CAR), thiodicarb (THI), chlorpyrifos (CHL), beta-cyfluthrin (BCY), gamma-cyhalothrin (GCY), tetraconazole (TET), spinosad (SPI) and indoxacarb (IND)] on honey bees using a feeding method. Toxicity tests of a 4-day exposure to individual pesticides revealed that CLO had the highest toxicity to A. mellifera, with an LC50 value of 0.24 μg a.i. mL-1, followed by IND and CHL with LC50 values of 3.40 and 3.56 μg a.i. mL-1, respectively. SPI and CAR had relatively low toxicities, with LC50 values of 7.19 and 8.42 μg a.i. mL-1, respectively. In contrast, TET exhibited the least toxicity, with an LC50 value of 258.7 μg a.i. mL-1. Most binary mixtures of CLO with other pesticides exerted additive and antagonistic effects. However, all the ternary mixtures containing CLO and TET (except for CLO+TET+THD) elicited synergistic responses to bees. Either increased numbers of components in the mixture or/and a unique mode of action appeared to be responsible for the higher toxicity of mixtures. Our findings emphasized the need for risk assessment of pesticide mixtures rather than the individual chemicals. Our data also provided information that might help growers avoid increased toxicity and unnecessary injury to pollinators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhua Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products / Key Laboratory of Detection for Pesticide Residue and Control of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Quality and Standard for Agro-products, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, Zhejiang, PR China; United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), 141 Experiment Station Road, Stoneville, MS 38776, USA
| | - Yu-Cheng Zhu
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), 141 Experiment Station Road, Stoneville, MS 38776, USA.
| | - Wenhong Li
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), 141 Experiment Station Road, Stoneville, MS 38776, USA; Guizhou Institute of Plant Protection, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550006, Guizhou, PR China
| | - Jianxiu Yao
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), 141 Experiment Station Road, Stoneville, MS 38776, USA; Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Gadi V P Reddy
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), 141 Experiment Station Road, Stoneville, MS 38776, USA
| | - Lu Lv
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products / Key Laboratory of Detection for Pesticide Residue and Control of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Quality and Standard for Agro-products, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, Zhejiang, PR China
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7
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Li J, Zhang W, Lin Z, Huang Y, Bhatt P, Chen S. Emerging Strategies for the Bioremediation of the Phenylurea Herbicide Diuron. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:686509. [PMID: 34475856 PMCID: PMC8406775 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.686509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Diuron (DUR) is a phenylurea herbicide widely used for the effective control of most annual and perennial weeds in farming areas. The extensive use of DUR has led to its widespread presence in soil, sediment, and aquatic environments, which poses a threat to non-target crops, animals, humans, and ecosystems. Therefore, the removal of DUR from contaminated environments has been a hot topic for researchers in recent decades. Bioremediation seldom leaves harmful intermediate metabolites and is emerging as the most effective and eco-friendly strategy for removing DUR from the environment. Microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes, can use DUR as their sole source of carbon. Some of them have been isolated, including organisms from the bacterial genera Arthrobacter, Bacillus, Vagococcus, Burkholderia, Micrococcus, Stenotrophomonas, and Pseudomonas and fungal genera Aspergillus, Pycnoporus, Pluteus, Trametes, Neurospora, Cunninghamella, and Mortierella. A number of studies have investigated the toxicity and fate of DUR, its degradation pathways and metabolites, and DUR-degrading hydrolases and related genes. However, few reviews have focused on the microbial degradation and biochemical mechanisms of DUR. The common microbial degradation pathway for DUR is via transformation to 3,4-dichloroaniline, which is then metabolized through two different metabolic pathways: dehalogenation and hydroxylation, the products of which are further degraded via cooperative metabolism. Microbial degradation hydrolases, including PuhA, PuhB, LibA, HylA, Phh, Mhh, and LahB, provide new knowledge about the underlying pathways governing DUR metabolism. The present review summarizes the state-of-the-art knowledge regarding (1) the environmental occurrence and toxicity of DUR, (2) newly isolated and identified DUR-degrading microbes and their enzymes/genes, and (3) the bioremediation of DUR in soil and water environments. This review further updates the recent knowledge on bioremediation strategies with a focus on the metabolic pathways and molecular mechanisms involved in the bioremediation of DUR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayi Li
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenping Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ziqiu Lin
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yaohua Huang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Pankaj Bhatt
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shaohua Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
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Sigurnjak Bureš M, Ukić Š, Cvetnić M, Prevarić V, Markić M, Rogošić M, Kušić H, Bolanča T. Toxicity of binary mixtures of pesticides and pharmaceuticals toward Vibrio fischeri: Assessment by quantitative structure-activity relationships. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 275:115885. [PMID: 33581639 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2020] [Revised: 10/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Pollutants in real aquatic systems commonly occur as chemical mixtures. Yet, the corresponding risk assessment is still mostly based on information on single-pollutant toxicity, accepting the assumption that pollutant mixtures exhibit additive toxicity effect which is often not the case. Therefore, it is still better to use the experimental approach. Unfortunately, experimental determination of toxicity for each mixture is practically unfeasible. In this study, quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models for the prediction of toxicity of binary mixtures towards bioluminescent bacteria Vibrio fischeri were developed at three toxicity levels (EC10, EC30 and EC50). For model development, experimentally determined toxicity values of 14 pollutants (pharmaceuticals and pesticides) were correlated with their structural features, applying multiple linear regression together with genetic algorithm. Statistical analysis, internal validation and external validation of the models were carried out. The toxicity is accurately predicted by all three models. EC30 and EC50 values are mostly influenced by geometrical distances between nitrogen and sulfur atoms. Furthermore, the simultaneous presence of oxygen and chlorine atoms in mixture can induce the increase in toxicity. At lower effect levels (EC10), nitrogen atom bonded to different groups has the highest impact on mixture toxicity. Thus, the analysis of the descriptors involved in the developed models can give insight into toxic mechanisms of the binary systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Sigurnjak Bureš
- University of Zagreb, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Marulićev Trg 19, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Š Ukić
- University of Zagreb, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Marulićev Trg 19, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - M Cvetnić
- University of Zagreb, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Marulićev Trg 19, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - V Prevarić
- University of Zagreb, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Marulićev Trg 19, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - M Markić
- University of Zagreb, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Marulićev Trg 19, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - M Rogošić
- University of Zagreb, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Marulićev Trg 19, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - H Kušić
- University of Zagreb, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Marulićev Trg 19, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - T Bolanča
- University of Zagreb, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Marulićev Trg 19, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia; University North, Trg dr. Žarka Dolinara 1, 48000, Koprivnica, Croatia
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Hutter HP, Poteser M, Lemmerer K, Wallner P, Kundi M, Moshammer H, Weitensfelder L. Health Symptoms Related to Pesticide Use in Farmers and Laborers of Ecological and Conventional Banana Plantations in Ecuador. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18031126. [PMID: 33514015 PMCID: PMC7908553 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18031126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Conventional banana farming is pesticide-intensive and leads to high exposure of farmworkers. Ecuador is the world’s biggest exporter of bananas. In this field study in 5 communities in Ecuador, we recorded potentially pesticide-associated subjective health symptoms in farmworkers and compared pesticide users to workers in organic farming. With one exception, symptom rates were always higher in the pesticide-exposed group. Significance was reached in 8 out of 19 investigated symptoms with the highest odds ratios (and smallest p-values) for local irritation like skin and eye irritation (OR = 3.58, CI 1.10–11.71, and 4.10, CI 1.37–12.31, respectively) as well as systemic symptoms like dizziness (OR = 4.80, CI 1.55–14.87) and fatigue (OR = 4.96, CI 1.65–14.88). Moreover, gastrointestinal symptoms were reported more frequently by pesticide users: nausea (OR = 7.5, CI 1.77–31.77) and diarrhea (OR = 6.43, CI 1.06–30.00). The majority of farmworkers were not adequately protected from pesticide exposure. For example, only 3 of 31 farmworkers that had used pesticides recently reported using gloves and only 6 reported using masks during active spraying. Improved safety measures and a reduction in pesticide use are necessary to protect the health of banana farmworkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans-Peter Hutter
- Department of Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Medical University Vienna, 1090 Wien, Austria; (H.-P.H.); (M.P.); (K.L.); (P.W.); (M.K.); (L.W.)
| | - Michael Poteser
- Department of Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Medical University Vienna, 1090 Wien, Austria; (H.-P.H.); (M.P.); (K.L.); (P.W.); (M.K.); (L.W.)
| | - Kathrin Lemmerer
- Department of Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Medical University Vienna, 1090 Wien, Austria; (H.-P.H.); (M.P.); (K.L.); (P.W.); (M.K.); (L.W.)
| | - Peter Wallner
- Department of Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Medical University Vienna, 1090 Wien, Austria; (H.-P.H.); (M.P.); (K.L.); (P.W.); (M.K.); (L.W.)
| | - Michael Kundi
- Department of Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Medical University Vienna, 1090 Wien, Austria; (H.-P.H.); (M.P.); (K.L.); (P.W.); (M.K.); (L.W.)
| | - Hanns Moshammer
- Department of Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Medical University Vienna, 1090 Wien, Austria; (H.-P.H.); (M.P.); (K.L.); (P.W.); (M.K.); (L.W.)
- Department of Hygiene, Medical University of Karakalpakstan, Nukus 230100, Uzbekistan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +43-1-401-603-4935
| | - Lisbeth Weitensfelder
- Department of Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Medical University Vienna, 1090 Wien, Austria; (H.-P.H.); (M.P.); (K.L.); (P.W.); (M.K.); (L.W.)
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Abstract
High living standards and a comfortable modern way of life are related to an increased usage of various plastic products, yielding eventually the generation of an increased amount of plastic debris in the environment. A special concern is on microplastics (MPs), recently classified as contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). This review focuses on MPs’ adverse effects on the environment based on their bioactivity. Hence, the main topic covered is MPs’ ecotoxicity on various aquatic (micro)organisms such as bacteria, algae, daphnids, and fish. The cumulative toxic effects caused by MPs and adsorbed organic/inorganic pollutants are presented and critically discussed. Since MPs’ bioactivity, including ecotoxicity, is strongly influenced by their properties (e.g., types, size, shapes), the most common classification of MPs types present in freshwater are provided, along with their main characteristics. The review includes also the sources of MPs discharge in the environment and the currently available characterization methods for monitoring MPs, including identification and quantification, to obtain a broader insight into the complex problem caused by the presence of MPs in the environment.
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Carena L, Vione D. Mapping the Photochemistry of European Mid-Latitudes Rivers: An Assessment of Their Ability to Photodegrade Contaminants. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25020424. [PMID: 31968645 PMCID: PMC7024250 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25020424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The abiotic photochemical reactions that take place naturally in sunlit surface waters can degrade many contaminants that pose concern to water bodies for their potentially toxic and long-term effects. This works aims at assessing the ability of European rivers to photoproduce reactive transient intermediates, such as HO• radicals and the excited triplet states of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (3CDOM*), involved in pollutant degradation. A photochemical mapping of the steady-state concentrations of these transients was carried out by means of a suitable modeling tool, in the latitude belt between 40 and 50°N. Such a map allowed for the prediction of the photochemical lifetimes of the phenylurea herbicide isoproturon (mostly undergoing photodegradation upon reaction with HO• and especially 3CDOM*) across different European countries. For some rivers, a more extensive dataset was available spanning the years 1990–2002, which allowed for the computation of the steady-state concentration of the carbonate radicals (CO3•−). With these data, it was possible to assess the time trends of the photochemical half-lives of further contaminants (atrazine, ibuprofen, carbamazepine, and clofibric acid). The calculated lifetimes were in the range of days to weeks, which might or might not allow for efficient depollution depending on the river-water flow velocity.
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