Environmental risk assessment of triclosan and ibuprofen in marine sediments using individual and sub-individual endpoints

Toxicological study on ibuprofen and selenium in freshwater mussel Lamellidens marginalis and exploring the microbial cytochrome through modelling and quantum mechanics approaches for its toxicity degradation in contaminated environment

Toxicological stress in aquatic organisms is caused by the discharge of hundreds of toxic pollutants and contaminants among which the current study concentrates on the toxic effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen (IBF) and the trace element selenium (Se). In this study, IBF and Se toxicity on freshwater mussel Lamellidens marginalis was studied for 14 days, and in silico predictions for their degradation were made using Molecular modelling and Quantum Mechanical approaches. The degrading propensity of cytochrome c oxidase proteins from Trametes verticillatus and Thauera selenatis (Turkey tail fungi and Gram-negative bacteria) is examined into atom level. The results of molecular modelling study indicate that ionic interactions occur in the T. selenatis-HEME bound complex by Se interacting directly with HEME, and in the T. versicolor-HEME bound complex by IBF bound to a nearby region of HEME. Experimental and theoretical findings suggest that, the toxicological effects of Se and IBF pollution can be reduced by bioremediation with special emphasis on T. versicolor, and T. selenatis, which can effectively interact with Se and IBF present in the environment and degrade them. Besides, this is the first time in freshwater mussel L. marginalis that ibuprofen and selenium toxicity have been studied utilizing both experimental and computational methodologies for their bioremediation study.

Multiresidue determination and predicted risk assessment of emerging contaminants in sediments from Kongsfjorden, Svalbard

The present work provides the first data on the occurrence of different classes of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in surface marine sediments from an Arctic fjord (Kongsfjorden, Svalbard Islands, Norway). The target compounds included: ciprofloxacin; enrofloxacin; amoxicillin; erythromycin; sulfamethoxazole; carbamazepine; diclofenac; ibuprofen; acetylsalicylic acid; paracetamol; caffeine; triclosan; N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide; 17β-estradiol; 17α-ethinyl estradiol and estrone. Sampling was performed in the late summer, when high sedimentation rates occur, and over 5 years (2018-2022). Based on the environmental concentrations (MECs) found of emerging contaminants and the relative predicted no-effect concentrations (PNECs), an environmental risk assessment (ERA) for sediments was performed, including the estimation of the Risk Quotients (RQs) of selection and propagation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in this Arctic marine ecosystem. Sediments were extracted by Pressurized Liquid Extraction (PLE) and the extracts were purified by Solid Phase Extraction (SPE). Analytical determination was conducted with liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-HRMS). PPCPs were detected in the sediments along the fjord in all the years investigated, with overall concentrations similar in most cases to those reported in urbanized areas of the planet and ranging from a minimum of 6.85 ng/g for triclosan to a maximum of 684.5 ng/g for ciprofloxacin. This latter was the only antibiotic detected but was the most abundant compound (32 %) followed by antipyretics (16 %), hormones (14 %), anti-inflammatories (13 %), insect repellents (11 %), stimulants (9 %), and disinfectants (5 %). Highest concentrations of all PPCPs detected were found close to the Ny-Ålesund research village, where human activities and the lack of appropriate wastewater treatment technologies were recognized as primary causes of local contamination. Finally, due to the presence in the sediments of the PPCPs investigated, the ERA highlights a medium (0.1 < RQ < 1) to high risk (RQ > 1) for organisms living in this Arctic marine ecosystem, including high risk of the spread of AMR.

Factors affecting the performance of a pharmaceutical wastewater treatment plant: Characterization of effluent and environmental risk

Pharmaceutical industries produce a huge volume of emerging pollutants (EPs) that pose a threat to the aqueous environment. Biological processes have shown their inefficacy in treating many pharmaceutical products. The study assessed physicochemical parameters, EPs, heavy metals in pharmaceutical industrial wastewater, and the removal efficiency (RE) of an aerobic biological treatment plant. The study also assessed the contamination levels and risk using several indices, such as the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index (CCME-WQI), heavy metal pollution index (HPI), heavy metal evaluation index (HEI), and risk quotients index (RQs). The study found that the treated water quality was poor, having antibiotics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and others, along with several transformation products (TPs) and heavy metals, which were unsafe for consumption with high environmental risk. The analysis results showed that the RE for TSS, BOD5, COD, TDS, and EC were found to be 91.80%, 86.81%, 72.29%, 72.20%, and 65.60%, respectively, where the values of BOD5, COD, NO3-, and PO43- in the effluent were still higher than the permissible limits of the ECR (2023). However, the RE for heavy metals was in the order of Cu (84.62%) > Fe (65.04%) > Mn (63.3%) > Zn (60.58%) > Cd (53.85%) > Ni (54.12%) > Pb (42.42%) > Cr (38%), where Cr and Cd concentrations were still higher than the permissible limit of DoE (2019). The Pearson correlation and PCA suggested that EC, TDS, TSS, DO, BOD5, and COD were the most correlating and contributing variables. This study argued that metal-ligand behaviors mainly affect the removal efficiency of the treatment plant by lowering the removal rate of heavy metals and pharmaceutical products.

Contaminants of emerging concern: Occurrence, analytical techniques, and removal with electrochemical advanced oxidation processes with special emphasis in Latin America

The occurrence of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in environmental systems is gradually more studied worldwide. However, in Latin America, the presence of contaminants of emerging concern, together with their environmental and toxicological impacts, has recently been gaining wide interest in the scientific community. This paper presents a critical review about the source, fate, and occurrence of distinct emerging contaminants reported during the last two decades in various countries of Latin America. In recent years, Brazil, Chile, and Colombia are the main countries that have conducted research on the presence of these pollutants in biological and aquatic compartments. Data gathered indicated that pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and personal care products are the most assessed CECs in Latin America, being the most common compounds the followings: atrazine, acenaphthene, caffeine, carbamazepine, ciprofloxacin, diclofenac, diuron, estrone, losartan, sulfamethoxazole, and trimethoprim. Most common analytical methodologies for identifying these compounds were HPLC and GC coupled with mass spectrometry with the potential to characterize and quantify complex substances in the environment at low concentrations. Most CECs' monitoring and detection were observed near to urban areas which confirm the out-of-date wastewater treatment plants and sanitization infrastructures limiting the removal of these pollutants. Therefore, the implementation of tertiary treatment should be required. In this tenor, this review also summarizes some studies of CECs removal using electrochemical advanced oxidation processes that showed satisfactory performance. Finally, challenges, recommendations, and future perspectives are discussed.

Triclosan exposure induces immunotoxic impacts by disrupting the immunometabolism, detoxification, and cellular homeostasis in blood clam (Tegillarca granosa)

Omnipresent presence of triclosan (TCS) in aqueous environment puts a potential threat to organisms. However, it's poorly understood about its immunometabolic impacts of marine invertebrates. In present study, we use a representative bivalve blood clam (Tegillarca granosa) as a model, investigating the effects of TCS exposure at 20 and 200 μg/L for 28 days on immunometabolism, detoxification, and cellular homeostasis to explore feasible toxicity mechanisms. Results demonstrated that the clams exposed to TCS resulting in evident immunotoxic impacts on both cellular and humoral immune responses, through shifting metabolic pathways and substances, as well as suppressing the expressions of genes from the immune- and metabolism-related pathways. In addition, significant alterations in contents (or activity) of detoxification enzymes and the expression of key detoxification genes were detected in TCS-exposed clams. Moreover, exposure to TCS also disrupted cellular homeostasis of clams through increasing MDA contents and caspase activities, and promoting activation of the apoptosis-related genes. These findings suggested that TCS might induce immunotoxic impacts by disrupting the immunometabolism, detoxification, and cellular homeostasis.

Factors hindering the degradation of pharmaceuticals from human urine in an iron-activated persulfate system

This study investigated the degradation of clofibric acid (CFA), bezafibrate (BZF), and sulfamethoxazole (SMX) in synthetic human urine using a novel mesoporous iron powder-activated persulfate system (mFe-PS system), and identified the factors limiting their degradation in synthetic human urine. A kinetic model was established to expose the radical production in various reaction conditions, and experiments were conducted to verify the modeling results. In the phosphate-containing mFe-PS system, the 120 min removal efficiency of CFA decreased from 95.1% to 76.6% as the phosphate concentration increased from 0.32 to 6.45 mmol/L, but recovered to 90.5% when phosphate concentration increased to 16.10 mmol/L. Meanwhile, the increased concentration of phosphate from 0.32 to 16.10 mmol/L reduced the BZF degradation efficacy from 91.5% to 79.0%, whereas SMX removal improved from 37.3% to 62.9%. The mFe-PS system containing (bi)carbonate, from 4.20 to 166.70 mmol/L, reduced CFA and BZF removal efficiencies from 100% to 76.8% and 80.4%, respectively, and SMX from 83.5% to 56.7% within a 120-min reaction time. In addition, alkaline conditions (pH ≥ 8.0) inhibited CFA and BZF degradations, while nonacidic pH (pH ≥ 7.0) remarkably inhibited SMX degradation. Results of the kinetic model indicated the formation of phosphate (H2PO4·/HPO4·-) and/or carbonate radicals (CO3·-) could limit pharmaceutical removal. The transformation products (TPs) of the pharmaceuticals revealed more incompletely oxidized TPs occurred in the phosphate- and (bi)carbonate-containing mFe-PS systems, and indicated that H2PO4·/HPO4·- mainly degraded pharmaceuticals via a benzene ring-opening reaction while CO3·- preferentially oxidized pharmaceuticals via a hydroxylation reaction.

A novel approach for the assessment of invertebrate behavior and its use in behavioral ecotoxicology

Sublethal effects are becoming more relevant in ecotoxicological test methods due to their higher sensitivity compared to lethal endpoints and their preventive nature. Such a promising sublethal endpoint is the movement behavior of invertebrates which is associated with the direct maintenance of various ecosystem processes, hence being of special interest for ecotoxicology. Disturbed movement behavior is often related to neurotoxicity and can affect drift, mate-finding, predator avoidance, and therefore population dynamics. We show the practical implementation of the ToxmateLab, a new device that allows monitoring the movement behavior of up to 48 organisms simultaneously, for behavioral ecotoxicology. We quantified behavioral reactions of Gammarus pulex (Amphipoda, Crustacea) after exposure to two pesticides (dichlorvos and methiocarb) and two pharmaceuticals (diazepam and ibuprofen) at sublethal, environmentally relevant concentrations. We simulated a short-term pulse contamination event that lasted 90 min. Within this short test period, we successfully identified behavioral patterns that were most pronounced upon exposure to the two pesticides: Methiocarb initially triggered hyperactivity, after which baseline behavior was restored. On the other hand, dichlorvos induced hypoactivity starting at a moderate concentration of 5 μg/L - a pattern we also found at the highest concentration of ibuprofen (10 μg/L). An additional acetylcholine esterase inhibition assay revealed no significant impact of the enzyme activity that would explain the altered movement behavior. This suggests that in environmentally realistic scenarios chemicals can induce stress - apart from mode-of-action - that affects non-target organisms' behavior. Overall, our study proves the practical applicability of empirical behavioral ecotoxicological approaches and thus represents a next step towards routine practical use.

Short-term effects of various non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on Danio rerio embryos

Due to the widespread use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) without a medical prescription and their frequent prevalence in aquatic habitats, there are major health and environmental issues. NSAIDs have been found in surface water and wastewater in concentrations ranging from ng/L to μg/L all over the world. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between NSAIDs (diclofenac, ketoprofen, paracetamol and ibuprofen) exposure and associated adverse effects in the assessment of indirect human health risks posed by Danio rerio (zebrafish) and Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) of these NSAIDs in aquatic environments. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to (i) reveal abnormality endpoints of early developmental stages, after exposure of zebrafish and (ii) perform an ecological risk assessment of aquatic organisms upon exposure to NSAIDs detected in surface waters based on the risk quotients (RQs) method. According to the toxicity data collected, all of the malformations appeared after diclofenac exposure at all concentrations. The most notable malformations were the lack of pigmentation and an increase in yolk sac volume, with EC₅₀ values of 0.6 and 1.03 mg/L, respectively. The results obtained for the ERA revealed RQs higher than 1 for all the four NSAIDs chosen, posing ecotoxicological pressure in aquatic environments. Overall, our findings provide a critical contribution to the formulation of high-priority actions, sustainable strategies and strict regulations that minimize the negative effects of NSAIDs on the aquatic ecosystem.•To determine the LC₅₀, lethal conditions such as coagulation, absence of heartbeat and blood flow, absence of tail separation and development of somites were taken into account.•The EC₅₀ was calculated using sublethal parameters such as blood coagulation, pericardial edema, yolk sac edema or hypertrophy.•The 4 compounds present a high risk individually and in mixture with a RQ >> 1.

Environmental and health impacts of spraying COVID-19 disinfectants with associated challenges

Coronavirus refers to a group of widespread viruses. The name refers to the specific morphology of these viruses because their spikes look like a crown under an electron microscope. The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that has been reported in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, was proclaimed an international public health emergency (PHEIC) on 30 January 2020, and on 11 March 2020, it was declared as a pandemic (World Health Organization 2020). The official name of the virus was declared by the WHO as "COVID-19 virus", formerly known as "2019-nCoV", or "Wuhan Coronavirus". The International Committee on Virus Taxonomy's Coronavirus Research Group has identified that this virus is a form of coronavirus that caused a severe outbreak of acute respiratory syndrome in 2002-2003 (SARS). As a result, the latest severe acute respiratory syndrome has been classified as a corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pathogen by this committee. This disease spread quickly across the country and the world within the first 3 months of the outbreak and became a global pandemic. To stop COVID-19 from spreading, the governing agencies used various chemicals to disinfect different commercial spaces, streets and highways. However, people used it aggressively because of panic conditions, anxiety and unconsciousness, which can have a detrimental impact on human health and the environment. Our water bodies, soil and air have been polluted by disinfectants, forming secondary products that can be poisonous and mutagenic. In the prevention and spread of COVID-19, disinfection is crucial, but disinfection should be carried out with sufficient precautions to minimize exposure to harmful by-products. In addition, to prevent inhalation, adequate personal protective equipment should be worn and chemical usage, concentrations, ventilation in the room and application techniques should be carefully considered. In the USA, 60% of respondents said they cleaned or disinfected their homes more often than they had in the previous months. In addition to the robust use of disinfection approaches to combat COVID-19, we will explore safe preventative solutions here.

Remediation of pharmaceutical pollutants using graphene-based materials - A review on operating conditions, mechanism and toxicology

Graphene is a high surface area special carbon compound with exceptional biological, electronic and mechanical properties. Graphene-based materials are potential components used in water treatment on different modes and processes. Ibuprofen and ciprofloxacin are two commonly found pharmaceutical contaminants discharged into water bodies from industrial, domestic and hospital sources. Their concentration levels in water bodies are reported in the range of 1 μg/L to 6.5 mg/L and 0.050-100 μg/L respectively. Their toxic effects pose very high risk to the inhabiting organisms. Their ability to resist biodegradation and capacity to bioaccumulate makes the conventional methods less effective in removal. In the present article, treatment of these compounds via three methods, adsorption, photocatalytic degradation and electro-fenton reactions using graphene-based materials along with the methods adopted for synthesis and treatment are reviewed. The uptakes obtained by graphene-derived adsorbents are presented along with the optimal operating conditions. Studies reported complete removal of ibuprofen from wastewater was achieved at 7 pH for 60 min using graphene membrane as adsorbent and uptake of 99% of ciprofloxacin was exhibited for graphene nanoplates/boron nitrate aerogel at a pH of 7 and 60 min. The reduced graphene oxide surface exhibits higher affinity to light adsorption which leads to the formation of photo generated electrons. The future perspectives for improved applications of graphene-based materials and the research gap currently existing are highlighted.

Implications for the seafood industry, consumers and the environment arising from contamination of shellfish with pharmaceuticals, plastics and potentially toxic elements: A case study from Irish waters with a global orientation

Shellfish are a rich source of minerals, B-vitamins and omega-3 to the human diet. The global population is expected to reach 9.6 billion people by 2050 where there will be increased demand for shellfish and for sustained improvements in harvesting. The production of most consumed species of shellfish is sea-based and are thus susceptible to in situ environmental conditions and water quality. Population growth has contributed to expansion of urbanization and the generation of effluent and waste that reaches aquatic environments, potentially contaminating seafood by exposure to non-treated effluents or inappropriately discarded waste. Environmental contaminants as microplastics (MP), pharmaceuticals (PHAR) and potentially toxic contaminants (PTE) are being identified in all trophic levels and are a current threat to both shellfish and consumer safety. Immunotoxicity, genotoxicity, fertility reduction, mortality and bioaccumulation of PTE are representative examples of the variety of effects already established in contaminated shellfish. In humans, the consumption of contaminated shellfish can lead to neurological and developmental effects, reproductive and gastrointestinal disorders and in extreme cases, death. This timely review provides insights into the presence of MP, PHAR and PTE in shellfish, and estimate the daily intake and hazard quotient for consumption behaviours. Alternatives approaches for seafood depuration that encompass risk reduction are addressed, to reflect state of the art knowledge from a Republic of Ireland perspective. Review of best-published literature revealed that MP, PHAR and PTE contaminants were detected in commercialised species of shellfish, such as Crassostrea and Mytilus. The ability to accumulate these contaminants by shellfish due to feeding characteristics is attested by extensive in vitro studies. However, there is lack of knowledge surrounding the distribution of these contaminants in the aquatic environment their interactions with humans. Preventive approaches including risk assessment are necessary to safeguard the shellfish industry and the consumer.

Health effects and risks associated with the occurrence of pharmaceuticals and their metabolites in marine organisms and seafood

Pharmaceuticals and their metabolites are continuously invading the marine environment due to their input from the land such as their disposal into the drains and sewers which is mostly followed by their transfer into wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Their incomplete removal in WWTPs introduces pharmaceuticals into oceans and surface water. To date, various pharmaceuticals and their metabolites have been detected in marine environment. Their occurrence in marine organisms raises concerns regarding toxic effects and development of drug resistant genes. Therefore, it is crucial to review the health effects and risks associated with the presence of pharmaceuticals and their metabolites in marine organisms and seafood. This is an important study area which is related to the availability of seafood and its quality. Hence, this study provides a critical review of the information available in literature which relates to the occurrence and toxic effects of pharmaceuticals in marine organisms and seafood. This was initiated through conducting a literature search focussing on articles investigating the occurrence and effects of pharmaceuticals and their metabolites in marine organisms and seafood. In general, most studies on the monitoring of pharmaceuticals and their metabolites in marine environment are conducted in well developed countries such as Europe while research in developing countries is still limited. Pharmaceuticals present in freshwater are mostly found in seawater and marine organisms. Furthermore, the toxicity caused by different pharmaceutical mixtures was observed to be more severe than that of individual compounds.

Marine bacteria-mediated abiotic-biotic coupling degradation mechanism of ibuprofen

Knowledge on the behavior and fate of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) is poorly explored in marine aphotic environment. In this study, the degradation mechanism of a typical PPCPs-ibuprofen (IBP) by a ubiquitous marine Pseudoalteromonas sp. was investigated based on transcriptome and key enzymes analysis. More importantly, a novel enzymatic-nonenzymatic coupling degradation mechanism was uncovered for the first time, namely, the degradation of IBP was firstly initiated by extracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), then the intermediate (e.g.4-ethylresorcinol) was further degraded by intracellular enzymes. It was showed that biogenic •OH, O₂^•-and H₂O₂ were responsible for extracellular nonenzymatic degradation, in which IBP was degraded to 4-ethylresorcinol through hydrogenation, isobutyl moiety cleavage, oxidation and decarboxylation. 4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase, homogentisate 1,2-dioxygenase, long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase, acetyl-CoA acyltransferase and enoyl-CoA hydratase were identified to be involved in intracellular degradation, leading 4-ethylresorcinol cracked and eventually mineralized. Ultimately, this novel degradation mechanism was demonstrated to be amino acids-driven through KEGG enrichment analysis and experimental data. Overall, our work uncovered a yet undiscovered abiotic-biotic coupling degradation mechanism in PPCPs biotransformation, thereby updating the conventional concept that contaminants transformation is solely accomplished by enzymes or non-enzymes, which can also provide new insights into PPCPs environmental behavior and fate.

Spiking organic chemicals onto sediments for ecotoxicological analyses: an overview of methods and procedures

Laboratory testing with spiked sediments with organic contaminants is a valuable tool for ecotoxicologists to study specific processes such as effects of known concentrations of toxicants, interactions of the toxicants with sediment and biota, and uptake kinetics. Since spiking of the sediment may be performed by using different strategies, a plethora of procedures was proposed in the literature for spiking organic chemicals onto sediments to perform ecotoxicological analyses. In this paper, we reviewed the scientific literature intending to characterise the kind of substrates that were used for spiking (i.e. artificial or field-collected sediment), how the substrates were handled before spiking and amended with the organic chemical, how the spiked sediment was mixed to allow the homogenisation of the chemical on the substrate and finally how long the spiked sediment was allowed to equilibrate before testing. What emerged from this review is that the choice of the test species, the testing procedures and the physicochemical properties of the organic contaminant are the primary driving factors affecting the selection of substrate type, sediment handling procedures, solvent carrier and mixing method. Finally, we provide recommendations concerning storage and characterization of the substrate, equilibrium times and verification of both equilibration and homogeneity.

Non-destructive biomarkers can reveal effects of the association of microplastics and pharmaceuticals or personal care products

Methods to assess the effects of contaminants on marine organisms typically involve euthanasia to obtain samples, but less invasive techniques may be more appropriate for working with threatened species. In this study, were assessed the biological responses of crabs exposed to microplastics and contaminants of emerging concern. Biochemical and cellular effects (lipid peroxidation, DNA damage, cholinesterase activity, and lysosomal membrane stability) in hemolymph were analyzed in a kinetic study, at 3 and 7 days, in U. cordatus exposed to microplastics spiked with Triclosan (TCS) or 17α-Ethynylestradiol (EE2). The results showed that the contaminants were produced toxic effects in the crabs exposed either to the microplastics alone (oxidative stress, genotoxicity, and neurotoxicity), or to microplastics with TCS or EE2 adsorbed (neurotoxic and cytotoxic). The present study showed the responsiveness of non-lethal analyzes to understanding the biological effects of combined exposure to microplastics and chemical pollution.

Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in the Marine Environment Around False Bay, Cape Town, South Africa: Occurrence and Risk-Assessment Study

Pollution of the marine environment has been increasing as a result of anthropogenic activities. The preservation of marine ecosystems as well as the safety of harvested seafood are nowadays a global concern. In the present study, levels of pharmaceuticals and personal care products were assessed in different environmental compartments in the near-shore marine environment of False Bay, Cape Town, South Africa. The study revealed the presence of these persistent chemical compounds in different environmental samples from this location. Diclofenac was the most dominant compound detected, with higher concentration than the other pharmaceutical compounds, as well as being present in almost all the samples from the different sites (seawater, 3.70-4.18 ng/L; sediment, 92.08-171.89 ng/g dry wt; marine invertebrates, 67.67-780.26 ng/g dry wt; seaweed, 101.50-309.11 ng/g dry wt). The accumulation of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the different species of organisms reflects the increasing anthropogenic pressure taking place at the sampling sites along the bay, as a result of population growth, resident lifestyle as well as poorly treated sewage effluent discharge from several associated wastewater-treatment plants. The concentration of these contaminants is in the order marine biota > sediments > seawater. The contaminants pose a low acute and chronic risk to the selected trophic levels. A public awareness campaign is needed to reduce the pollution at the source, as well as wastewater discharge limits need to be more stringent. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:614-634. © 2021 SETAC.

Biological effects of the antihypertensive losartan under different ocean acidification scenarios

Since the last decade, several studies have reported the presence and effects of pharmaceutical residues in the marine environment, especially those of the antihypertensive class, such as losartan. However, there is little knowledge about the physiological effects of losartan in marine invertebrates regarding its behavior under possible coastal ocean acidification scenarios. The objective of this study was to evaluate biological effects on marine organisms at different levels of the biological organization caused by the compound losartan in water and sediment under coastal ocean acidification scenarios. Water and sediment samples were collected at five sites around the Santos Submarine Sewage outfall (SSO) and two sites around the Guarujá Submarine Sewage Outfall (GSO). Losartan was found in concentrations ranging from <LOD to 7.63 ng/L in water and from <LOQ to 3.10 ng/g in sediments. Statistical analysis showed interactive effects pH and losartan on the toxicity results. The water toxicity test with Echinometra lucunter embryos/larvae showed LOECs 50-100 mg/L, with values decreasing as the pH decreased. In the sediment assays, LOEC value for sea urchin embryo-larval development was 1.0 μg/g for all tested pHs. Regarding the lysosomal membrane stability assays with adult bivalves, a LOEC of 3000 ng/L was found for Perna perna in water exposure (both at pH 8.0 and 7.6). Effects for Mytella guyanensis were observed at environmentally relevant concentrations in sediment (LOEC = 3 ng/g at pH 8.0 and 7.6). This study demonstrated that coastal ocean acidification by itself causes effects on marine invertebrates, but can also increase the negative effects of losartan in waterborne exposure. There is a need to deepen the studies on the ecotoxicity of pharmaceutical residues and acidification of the marine environment.

How does the brown mussel Perna perna respond to environmental pollution? A review on pollution biomarkers

The brown mussel Perna perna (Linnaeus, 1758) is a valuable resource for aquaculture in tropical and subtropical coastal regions. It presents desirable characteristics for biomonitoring, including being sessile, widely distributed and abundant, and is a filter-feeder able to accumulate several classes of pollutants (e.g., metals, hydrocarbons, among others). Mussels' biological responses to pollution exposure can be measured as biomarkers, which include alterations ranging from molecular to physiological levels, to estimate the degree of environmental contamination and its effects on biota. This full review compiles two decades (2000-2020) of literature concerning biological effects on P. perna mussel caused by environmental pollutants (i.e., metals, hydrocarbons, and emerging pollutants), considering environmental and farm-based biomonitoring. Biochemical markers related to mussels' oxidative status were efficient for the biomonitoring of metals (i.e., antioxidant enzymes associated with oxidative damage in biomolecules). Genotoxicity and cytotoxicity indicators (i.e., comet, micronucleus, and neutral red assays) provided a depiction of hydrocarbon contamination. The neutral red assay gave a time-concentration cytotoxic response to a wide range of pollutants, including emerging pollutants (e.g., pharmaceuticals and biocides) and hydrocarbons. Perna perna hemocyte parameters provided a useful approach for biocide biomonitoring. This paper summarizes useful biomarkers from molecular to physiological levels in this mussel species used to identify and quantify the degree of coastal pollution. An integrated biomarker analysis may provide a way to overcome possible biomarker variations and assess multi-polluted sites. Nevertheless, it is necessary to investigate biomarker variations according to natural factors (e.g., season and gonad maturation stage) to standardize them for trustworthy biomonitoring.

Multibiomarker responses in Danio rerio after exposure to sediment spiked with triclosan

Triclosan (TCS) is an antimicrobial and antimycotic agent widely used in personal care products. In aquatic environments, both TCS and its biomethylated more persistent form, methyl-triclosan (MeTCS), are usually detected in wastewater effluents and rivers, where are commonly adsorbed to suspended solids and sediments. The aim of this study was to evaluate biochemical and physiological effects in Danio rerio after a short term (2 days) and prolonged (21 days) exposures to sediment spiked with TCS acting as the source of the pollutant in the assay. The activities of catalase (CAT), glutathione-s transferase (GST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), lipid peroxidation levels (LPO), total capacity against peroxyl radicals (ACAP), and acetylcholinesterase enzymatic activity (AChE) were measured in liver, gills, and brain. Most of TCS on the spiked sediment was biotransformed to MeTCS and promoted different adverse effects on D. rerio. Gills were the most sensitive organ after 2 day-exposure, showing lipid damage and increased SOD activity. After 21 days of exposure, liver was the most sensitive organ, showing lower ACAP, increased LPO levels, and SOD and CAT activities. This is the first study reporting the effects on biochemical markers in D. rerio from a MeTCS sink resulting from sediment spiked with TCS.

Emerging Contaminants in Seafront Zones. Environmental Impact and Analytical Approaches

Some chemical substances have the potential to enter the coastal and marine environment and cause adverse effects on ecosystems, biodiversity and human health. For a large majority of them, their fate and effects are poorly understood as well as their use still unregulated. Finding effective and sustainable strategies for the identification of these emerging and/or anthropogenic contaminants that might cause polluting effects in marine environments to mitigate their adverse effects, is of utmost importance and a great challenge for managers, regulators and researchers. In this review we will evaluate the impact of emerging contaminants (ECs) on marine coastal zones namely in their ecosystems and biodiversity, highlighting the potential risks of organic pollutants, pharmaceuticals and personal care products. Emerging microextraction techniques and high-resolution analytical platforms used in isolation, identification and quantification of ECs will be also reviewed.

Effects of substances released from a coal tar-based coating used to protect harbor structures on oysters

Products coal tar-based are largely used as concrete structures as protective coatings but some questions about leaching and potential toxic effects remain unclear. A laboratory experiment exposing oysters to miniaturized concrete pillars painted with Lackpoxi N1761 over time was performed and trace elements and 17 PAH were monitored in seawater exposure media, and oyster tissues. The original paint composition was also analyzed, and high concentrations of trace elements and PAH were detected. Sharp increases in PAH concentrations were observed after 6-96 h in exposure media and oyster tissues, suggesting that these compounds were leached from the painted structures. In parallel, the integrity of the hemocytes lysosomal membranes of exposed organisms has been damaged. Based on the response of this biomarker, the use of Lackpoxi N1761 is potentially harmful to the environment and it is required that coal tar-based paints be evaluated according to the environmental risk assessment protocols.

Acute Toxicity and DNA Instability Induced by Exposure to Low Doses of Triclosan and Phthalate DEHP, and Their Combinations, in vitro

Triclosan (TCS) is an antimicrobial agent widely used in personal care products (PCP) and the di-(2-ethyl hydroxy-phthalate) (DEHP) is a chemical compound derived from phthalic acid, used in medical devices and plastic products with polyvinyl chloride (PVCs). As result of their extensive use, TCS and DEHP have been found in the environment and previous studies demonstrated the association between their exposure and toxic effects, mostly in aquatic organisms, but there is a shortage in the literature concerning the exposure of TCS and DEHP in human cells. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of exposure to TCS and DEHP, as well as their combinations, on biomarkers related to acute toxicity and DNA instability, in HepG2 cells, by use of cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome (CBMNCyt) assay. For that, the cultures were exposed to TCS, DEHP and combinations at doses of 0.10, 1.0, and 10 μM for the period of 4 h and the parameters related to DNA damage (i.e., frequencies of micronuclei (MN) and nuclear buds (NBUDs), to cell division (i.e., nuclear division index (NDI) and nuclear division cytotoxic index (NDCI) and to cell death (apoptotic and necrotic cells) were scored. Clear mutagenic effects were seen in cells treated with TCS, DEHP at doses of 1.0 and 10 μM, but no combined effects were observed when the cells were exposed to the combinations of TCS + DEHP. On the other hand, the combination of the toxicants significantly increased the frequencies of apoptotic and necrotic cells, as well as induced alterations of biomarkers related to cell viability (NDI and NDCI), when compared to the groups treated only with TCS or DEHP. Taken together, the results showed that TCS and DEHP are also able to induce acute toxicity and DNA damage in human cells.

Sublethal effects of triclosan and triclocarban at environmental concentrations in silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) embryos

Although banished in some countries, triclosan (TCS) and triclocarban (TCC) have been detected in surface waters in concentrations ranging from ng L^-1 to μg L^-1 and have shown to affect non-target organisms posing risk to aquatic ecosystems. However, the majority of the studies consider higher levels of these chemicals and single exposure effects to investigate their potential risks, rather than using environmentally relevant concentrations and their binary mixture. In this study, the toxicity of TCS and TCC, and their binary mixture was assessed in catfish embryos (Rhamdia quelen, a south American native species) exposed to environmental concentrations during 96 h. Organisms were evaluated through the endpoints of developmental abnormalities (spine, fin, facial/cranial and thorax), biochemical biomarkers related to oxidative stress responses: catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities, protein carbonylation (PCO) and neurotoxicity by acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE). The data showed that TCS caused fin abnormalities, decrease of SOD activity and increase of AChE activity in the catfish embryos of 96hpf. On the other hand, TCC and the binary mixture showed a higher abnormality index for the 96hpf embryos, and an induction of CAT and GST activities for the mixture treatment. The results obtained were able to show potential, but not severe, toxicity of TCS and TCC even in low concentrations and a short period of exposure. The relevance of studies approaching real scenarios of exposure should be reinforced, considering environmental concentrations of chemicals, interactions of contaminants in complex mixtures and the use of a native species such as R. quelen exposed during initial stages of development.

Ibuprofen as an emerging pollutant on non-target aquatic invertebrates: Effects on Chironomus riparius

The concern about pharmaceuticals has been increased over the last decade due to their burgeoning consumption. Ibuprofen has an extensive presence in surface water with risks for the aquatic biota. This study focuses on the effects of ibuprofen at environmental concentrations on the survival, transcriptional level, and enzymatic activity for 24, 96 h on Chironomus riparius. Ibuprofen developed a substantial effect on survival by all the conditions. mRNA levels of EcR, Dronc, and Met (endocrine system), hsp70, hsp24, and hsp27 (stress response), and Proph and Def (immune system) were modified, joined to increased GST and PO activity. The results confirmed alterations on the development of C. riparius, as well as two essential mechanisms, involved in protection against external toxicological challenge. Ibuprofen poses an incipient risk to C. riparius and could at an organismal level by compromising their survival, development, and ability to respond to adverse conditions on the future populations.

Anti-inflammatory drugs in the Vistula River following the failure of the Warsaw sewage collection system in 2019

At the end of August 2019, in Warsaw, the sewage collection system of the Wastewater Treatment Plant malfunctioned. During the subsequent 12 days, over 3.6 million m³ of untreated sewage was introduced from the damaged collector directly into the Vistula River. It is one of the biggest known failures of its kind in the world so far. In this study we investigated to what extent the incident contributed to the increased discharge of anti-inflammatory drugs into the environment. The study covered the section from the point of discharge to the city of Toruń (ca. 170 km downstream). It was found that in the river waters downstream of the damaged collector, the concentrations of selected pharmaceuticals increased considerably in comparison with the waters upstream of the collector. The highest concentrations were observed for paracetamol (102.9 μg/L), ibuprofen (5.3 μg/L) and diclofenac (4.8 μg/L). We also measured to what extent and at what rate these pollutants were distributed along the river. The effects of the incident were observed in further parts of the river after 16 days. In the study we also detected elevated concentrations of ibuprofen and diclofenac in the bottom sediments collected 6 weeks after the failure. Measurements of the levels of pharmaceuticals in estuarial and marine waters in the vicinity of the mouth of the Vistula River indicate that the incident did not significantly increase the load of these pollutants in the waters of the southern Baltic Sea.

Toxic effects of NSAIDs in non-target species: A review from the perspective of the aquatic environment

The presence of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment, both in marine and freshwater reservoirs, is a major concern of global environmental protection. Among the drugs that are most commonly used, NSAIDs tend to dominate. Currently, being aware of the problem caused by drug contamination, it is extremely important to evaluate the scale and the full spectrum of its consequences, from short-term to long-term effects. The influence on non-target aquatic animals can take place at many levels, and the effects can be seen both in behaviour and physiology, but also in genetic alterations or reproduction disorders, affecting the development of entire populations. This review summarises all the advances made to estimate the impact of NSAIDs on aquatic animals. Multicellular animals from all trophic levels, inhabiting both inland waters, seas and oceans, have been considered. Particular attention has been paid to chronic studies, conducted at low, environmentally-relevant concentrations, to estimate the real effects of the present pollution. The number of such studies has indeed increased in recent years, allowing for a better insight into the possible consequences of pharmaceutical pollution. It should be stressed, however, that our knowledge is still limited to a few model species, while there are many groups of organisms completely unexplored regarding the effects of drugs. Therefore, the main aim of this paper was to summarise the current state of knowledge on the toxicity of NSAIDs in aquatic animals, also identifying important gaps and major issues requiring further analysis.

Anti-inflammatory drugs in the marine environment: Bioconcentration, metabolism and sub-lethal effects in marine bivalves

Pharmaceuticals such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been found in the marine environment. Although there is a large body of evidence that pharmaceutical drugs exert negative impacts on aquatic organisms, especially in the freshwater compartment, only limited studies are available on bioconcentration and the effects of NSAIDs on marine organisms. Bivalves have a high ecological and socio-economic value and are considered good bioindicator species in ecotoxicology and risk assessment programs. Therefore, this review summarizes current knowledge on the bioconcentration and the effects of three widely used NSAIDs, diclofenac, ibuprofen and paracetamol, in marine bivalves exposed under laboratory conditions. These pharmaceutical drugs were chosen based on their environmental occurrence both in frequency and concentration that may warrant their inclusion in the European Union Watch List. It has been highlighted that ambient concentrations may result in negative effects on wild bivalves after long-term exposures. Also, higher trophic level organisms may be more impacted due to food-chain transfer (e.g., humans are shellfish consumers). Overall, the three selected NSAIDs were reported to bioconcentrate in marine bivalves, with recognized effects at different life-stages. Immune responses were the main target of a long-term exposure to the drugs. The studies selected support the inclusion of diclofenac on the European Union Watch List and highlight the importance of extending research for ibuprofen and paracetamol due to their demonstrated negative effects on marine bivalves exposed to environmental realistic concentrations, under laboratory conditions.

Developmental/reproductive effects and gene expression variations in Chironomus riparius after exposure to reclaimed water and its fortification with carbamazepine and triclosan

The potential benefits of reclaimed water (RW) uses for environmental enhancement and restoration could become adverse impacts if RW does not meet the quality criteria that ensure wildlife preservation. RW can contain complex mixtures of micropollutants that may accumulate in sediment after environmental uses and affect benthic fauna. Therefore, we designed this study to assess the effects of RW on a sediment insect species used mainly in ecotoxicology (Chironomus riparius). Whole organism effects and gene expression were measured in a water sediment system after spiking RW as overlying water, which was renewed 3 times during the test. Development rate, emergence rate and fecundity were monitored after the 21-day exposure. Endocrine-related genes (EcR, ERR, E75, Vtg), cellular stress genes (hsp70, hsc70, hsp24, hsp10) and biotransformation genes (gp93, GSTd3, GPx, cyp4g) were assessed in larvae after the 10-day exposure. The experimental design also included single or binary fortifications of both test medium and RW, obtained by adding two emerging pollutants: carbamazepine (100 μg/L CBZ) and triclosan (20 μg/L TCS). The chemical characterisation of RW showed that 20 of the 23 screened emerging pollutants fell within the detection limit, 10 exceeded 0.01 μg/L (including CBZ) and three exceeded 0.1 μg/L (hydrochlorothiazide, atenolol, ibuprofen). The analytical measures of sediment (day 21) and overlying water (days 7, 14 and 21) were taken to know the water-sediment distribution of CBZ and TCS added to fortifications. CBZ distributed mainly in overlying water (110-164 μg/L and 73-100 μg/kg), while TCS showed a higher affinity to sediment (2.8-5.1 μg/L and 36-55 μg/kg). RW had significant effects in molecular terms (Vtg, hsp70, hsc70), but had no significant effects on the whole organism. Nevertheless, the single RW fortifications impaired both the development rate and fecundity, while the binary RW fortification impaired only fecundity. The most marked increase in EcR expression was observed for the binary RW fortification. Hsps, GSTd3 and cyp4g showed a similar tendency to that observed for EcR and Vtg in the binary and single RW fortifications. The binary mixture (CBZ and TCS together) in RW was toxic, but not in the medium tests. Therefore, the major concern of RW uses is apparently related to the interactivity between this complex matrix and any other pollutants possibly present in the environment where RW is applied. Our results underscore the need for raising awareness about RW effects, which can be achieved by ecotoxicological testing.

Effects of Microplastics Associated with Triclosan on the Oyster Crassostrea brasiliana: An Integrated Biomarker Approach

Urban waste is a complex mixture of different substances, including microplastics and pharmaceuticals and personal care products. Microplastics have a high affinity for hydrophobic substances. One of these substances is triclosan, a bactericide used in a variety of hygiene products. Therefore, microplastics (MPs) may serve as a vector between triclosan and aquatic organisms. The current study sought to evaluate the effects of the interaction between microplastics and triclosan based on a mechanistic approach in which the oyster Crassostrea brasiliana was used as a model. The organisms were exposed to three conditions: the control, microplastic (MP), and microplastic contaminated with triclosan (MPT). The organisms were exposed for 3 or 7 days. After the exposure time, hemolymph was sampled for performing the neutral red retention time assay and, subsequently, the gills, digestive glands, and adductor muscles were dissected for measuring biomarkers responses (EROD, DBF, GST, GPx, GSH, lipid peroxidation, DNA strand breaks, and AChE). Our results demonstrate combined effects of MPs associated with triclosan on oyster physiology and biochemistry, as well as on lysosomal membrane stability. These results contribute to understanding the effects of contaminants of emerging concern and microplastics on aquatic organisms.

A toxicological study on photo-degradation products of environmental ibuprofen: Ecological and human health implications

Increasing quantities of pharmaceutical waste in the environment have disrupted the balance of ecosystems, and may have subsequent effects on human health. Although a handful of previous studies have shown the impacts of pharmaceutically active compounds on the environment, the toxicological effects of their degradation products remain largely unknown. In the current study, the photo-degradation products of environmental ibuprofen were assessed for both ecotoxicological and human health effects using a series of in vitro assays. Here, six of the major degradation products are synthesized with high purity (>98%) and characterized with ¹HNMR, ¹³CNMR, FT-IR and HRMS. To evaluate human health effects, three gut microbiota species, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli, and two human cell lines, HEK293T and HepG2, are exposed to various concentrations of ibuprofen and its degradation products. On L. acidophilus, the ibuprofen degradation product (±)-(2R,3R)-2-(4-isobutylphenyl)-5-methylhexan-3-ol shows a greater toxic effect while ibuprofen enhances its growth at lower concentrations. At higher concentrations, ibuprofen shows at least a 2-fold higher toxicity compared to that of its degradation products. However, E. faecalis shows little or no effect upon exposure to these compounds. An induction of the SOS response in E. coli is observed but limited to only ibuprofen and 4-acetylbenzoic acid. In human cell line studies, survival of both HEK293T and HepG2 cell lines is profoundly impaired by the photo-degradation products of (±)- (2R,3R)-2-(4-isobutylphenyl)-5-methylhexan-3-ol, (±)-(2R,3S)-2-(4-isobutylphenyl)-5-methylhexan-3-ol, and (±)-1-(4-(1-hydroxy-2methylpropyl)phenyl)ethan-1-one. In this work, the bioluminescence bacterium, Aliivibrio fischeri, is used as a model to assess environmental impact. Both ibuprofen and its degradation products inhibit the growth of this gram-negative bacteria with the primary compound showing the most significant impact. Overall, our results highlight that some of the degradation products of ibuprofen can be more toxic to human kidney cell line and liver cell line than the parent compound while ibuprofen can be more toxic to human gut microbiota and A. fischeri than ibuprofen degradation products.

Adaptative responses of myenteric neurons of Sphoeroides testudineus to environmental pollution

Contamination in estuarine regions affects the local biota damaging the ecosystems and reaching humans. The gastrointestinal tract is a dynamic environment capable of obtaining nutrients and energy from food while it protects the host against harmful toxins and pathogens from the external environment. These functions are modulated by the enteric nervous system and changes in its structure can result in gastrointestinal disorders. The objective of this study was to evaluate if the environmental contaminants have effects on the myenteric neuronal plasticity of pufferfish Sphoeroides testudineus. Animals were collected in Barra do Una River, located at Jureia-Itatins Mosaic of Protected Areas (reference area - RA) and in the Santos Estuarine System (impacted area - IA). Morpho-quantitative analyses of the general and metabolically active myenteric neuronal populations of the proximal and distal intestine were made. Disarrangement was observed in the general organization of the myenteric plexus, with an expressive reduction of the neuronal groups (nodes) in the animals of IA. The vulnerability of the myenteric plexus was evidenced by a decrease in density and cellular profile of the general neuronal population, followed by an increase of the metabolism of the remaining neurons, which in turn was verified by a growth of the area of the cellular and nuclear profiles of the metabolically active neuronal population. Through these analyses, we concluded that animals inhabiting polluted regions present alterations in the myenteric neuronal plasticity, as a way of maintaining the functions of the gastrointestinal tract.

Effects of pollution on marine organisms

This review covers selected 2018 articles on the biological effects of pollutants, including human physical disturbances, on marine and estuarine plants, animals, ecosystems, and habitats. The review, based largely on journal articles, covers field and laboratory measurement activities (bioaccumulation of contaminants, field assessment surveys, toxicity testing, and biomarkers) as well as pollution issues of current interest including endocrine disrupters, emerging contaminants, wastewater discharges, marine debris, dredging, and disposal. Special emphasis is placed on effects of oil spills and marine debris due largely to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil blowout in the Gulf of Mexico and proliferation of data on the assimilation and effects of marine debris. Several topical areas reviewed in the past (e.g., mass mortalities ocean acidification) were dropped this year. The focus of this review is on effects, not on pollutant sources, chemistry, fate, or transport. There is considerable overlap across subject areas (e.g., some bioaccumulation data may be appear in other topical categories such as effects of wastewater discharges, or biomarker studies appearing in oil toxicity literature). Therefore, we strongly urge readers to use keyword searching of the text and references to locate related but distributed information. Although nearly 400 papers are cited, these now represent a fraction of the literature on these subjects. Use this review mainly as a starting point. And please consult the original papers before citing them.

Occurrence and distribution of pharmaceutical compounds in the Danshuei River Estuary and the Northern Taiwan Strait

Ten pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) were determined in northern Taiwan estuarine waters and Taiwan Strait (TS) seawater. The ecological risk of these PhACs was assessed using risk quotient (RQ), which is the ratio of the measured maximum concentration to the predicted no-effect concentration. Six PhACs were detected within the estuarine waters. Caffeine concentration (130-718 ng l^-1) was the highest among the analyzed PhACs. The distribution of PhACs in the Danshuei River Estuary generally exhibited addition behavior, except that caffeine showed conservative behavior. Carbamazepine, gemfibrozil, caffeine, and ketoprofen were detected in TS seawaters. Their concentrations follow the sequence: gemfibrozil > ketoprofen > caffeine > carbamazepine. The caffeine concentrations in TS seawaters were 2-3 orders of magnitude lower than those in Danshuei estuarine waters. With few exceptions for caffeine, erythromycin, and sulfadiazine posing low risk in some estuarine waters, most of the RQ values were <0.01, suggesting no adverse effects on aquatic organisms.

New Insights into Dose- and Time-Dependent Response of Five Typical PPCPs on Soil Microbial Respiration

The widespread use of pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) has attracted much attention and the impact of PPCPs on indigenous microbial communities has become increasingly important in recent days. Five common PPCPs, including doxycycline (DOX), ciprofloxacin (CIP), triclocarban (TCC), carbamazepine (CBZ), and sulfadimidine (SMZ), were selected and their effects on soil microbial respiration were studied at concentrations of 0, 0.2, 1, 5, 25 and 50 mg/kg. The results of this study indicate that the effect of five common PPCPs on soil microbial respiration was dose- and time- dependent. At low concentrations (0.2 and 1 mg/kg), CBZ and SMZ exhibited an activation effect on microbial soil respiration at 1 day (58.02%, 26.39% and 1.54%, 1.76% at 0.2 and 1 mg/kg respectively), while DOX showed inhibition for all tested concentrations at 1 day of incubation. At high concentrations (25 and 50 mg/kg) CIP and SMZ showed an inhibitory effect (- 69.13%, - 80.86% for 25 and 50 mg/kg, respectively), while TCC and CBZ exhibited stimulatory effect (38.07%, 9.64% and 4.06%, 12.18% at 25 and 50 mg/kg, respectively) at 1 day of incubation. Our findings indicate that the effect of tested PPCPs on soil microbial respiration had an inhibitory or stimulatory effect based on the dose and extent of time.

The influence of temperature on the effects induced by Triclosan and Diclofenac in mussels

Little is known about the consequences of exposure to pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in elevated temperatures associated with climate change. To increase the knowledge on this topic, Mytilus galloprovincialis mussels were exposed to 1.0 μg/L of either the antimicrobial Triclosan (TCS) or the anti-inflammatory drug Diclofenac (DIC), at control (17 °C) and 4 °C raised (21 °C) temperatures for 28 days. Triclosan and DIC concentrations in the water and tissues were subsequently measured and related to biomarker responses including: energy metabolism (electron transport system (ETS) activity, glycogen and protein reserves), oxidative stress markers, glutathione balance between the reduced and the oxidised form (GSH/GSSG), and damage to proteins and lipids. Mussels responded to the increase in temperature and drug exposure by lowering their metabolic rate (decreased ETS), increasing their endogenous reserves and antioxidant defences, thus preventing oxidative stress damage, with the exception of DIC exposure at the higher temperature. In all cases, GSH/GSSG ratio was reduced in detriment of the antioxidant form at both PPCPs exposures and elevated temperature with no additive effect due to combined stressors. Overall, either drug exposure or increased temperature could compromise the ability of mussels to withstand further insults.

Estrogen levels in surface sediments from a multi-impacted Brazilian estuarine system

Estrogen levels were assessed in surface sediments from one of the most industrialized and urbanized estuarine systems in Latin America (SSES, Santos and São Vicente estuarine system). Estriol (E3) presented quantifiable levels in all sampled sites, ranging from 20.9 ng g^-1 to 694.2 ng g^-1. 17β-estradiol (E2) and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) were also detected in almost all sampled sites. The highest concentration of E2 was 23.9 ng g^-1, whereas high levels of EE2 86.3 ng g^-1. The occurrence of estrogens in SSES was diffuse and partially related to a domestic sewage outfall. Estrogens were also found in areas with substantial contribution of sanitary effluents from domiciles not covered by sanitation services. Our results reinforce that studies on environmental contamination by estrogens should not be spatially limited to the vicinities of point sources. These results contribute to raise awareness on the need of a formal approach to assess ecological risks of estrogens in the SSES.

A hollow mesoporous carbon from metal-organic framework for robust adsorbability of ibuprofen drug in water

Herein, we described a tunable method for synthesis of novel hollow mesoporous carbon (MPC) via direct pyrolysis (800^oC) of MIL-53 (Fe) as a self-sacrificed template. The structural characterization revealed a hollow, amorphous, defective and mesoporous MPC along with high surface area (approx. 200 m² g^-1). For the experiments of ibuprofen adsorption onto MPC, effects of contact time, MPC dosage, ionic strength, concentration and temperature were systematically investigated. The optimal conditions consisted of pH = 3, concentration 10 mg l^-1 and dose of 0.1 g l^-1 for the highest ibuprofen removal efficiency up to 88.3% after 4 h. Moreover, adsorption behaviour, whereby chemisorption and monolayer controlled the uptake of ibuprofen over MPC, were assumed. Adsorption mechanisms including H-bonding, π-π interaction, metal-oxygen, electrostatic attraction were rigorously proposed. In comparison to several studies, the MPC nanocomposite in this work obtained the outstanding maximum adsorption capacity (206.5 mg g^-1) and good reusability (5 cycles); thus, it can be used as a feasible alternative for decontamination of ibuprofen anti-inflammatory drug from water.

Multiple lines of evidence of sediment quality in an urban Marine Protected Area (Xixová-Japuí State Park, SP, Brazil)

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) aim to protect habitats, biodiversity, and ecological processes as a conservation tool. These areas have been affected by contamination, which threats the biodiversity and ecological functioning. In this study, we evaluated the sediment quality of Xixová-Japuí State Park (XJSP), an MPA located in an urbanized Bay (Santos, Southeast Brazil) by integrating multiple lines-of-evidence. Six sites were selected within the XJSP and analyzed for sediment chemistry, toxicity, and benthic community descriptors using Sediment Quality Triad approach (SQT). Whole-sediment Toxicity Identification Evaluation (TIE) was employed as a complementary line of evidence to confirm the presence of domestic effluent discharges as a potential stressor. The SQT showed that sediments collected within XJSP are impacted by contaminants, exhibiting chronic toxicity and changes in benthic community. TIE results indicated that trace metals, organic contaminants, and ammonia contributed to the observed effects. Our results also indicate a lack of effectiveness of MPA in protecting the biodiversity due to the contamination sources, which requires efforts to pollution control in order to ensure the environmental conservation and management plan goals.

Triclosan in over the counter medicines of South China

Triclosan (TCS) is an endocrine disruptor which may affect endocrine function, antibiotic resistance, and thyroid hormone homeostasis. As a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent used in medical and personal care products, TCS was frequently detected in human urine, indicating widespread human exposure to this chemical. Over-the-counter medicines (OTCs) may be a potential source of human exposure to TCS. In this study, 84 OTCs were collected from Guangzhou, South China, including medicines intended for both children and adults. We determined the concentration of TCS in OTCs and the estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of TCS by evaluating OTCs for different age groups of the Chinese population. Our results indicated over half of the evaluated medicines contained TCS and the highest concentration reached 7.825 ng/g, with a median value of 0.017 ng/g. TCS was frequently found in adult medicines (detected in 85% of samples), and the concentrations were significantly higher than those in children's medicines. TCS in OTCs may come from packaging materials, cultivated soils, or production process (Chinese patent medicines). The EDIs of TCS (estimated with 95th concentration in OTC medicines) were 0.305, 0.191, 0.287, 0.331, and 0.135 and 0.110 ng/kg-bw/day for infants, toddlers, children, teenagers, and adult females and males, respectively. Compared to other potential sources, human exposure to TCS from OTCs was limited in China-much less than TCS exposure through personal care products or indoor dust.

Brominated Flame Retardants, Microplastics, and Biocides in the Marine Environment: Recent Updates of Occurrence, Analysis, and Impacts

Emerging contaminants (ECs) may pose adverse effects on the marine ecosystem and human health. Based on the analysis of publications filed in recent years, this paper provides a comprehensive overview on three prominent groups of ECs, i.e., brominated flame retardants, microplastics, and biocides. It includes detailed discussions on: (1) the occurrence of ECs in seawater, sediment, and biota; (2) analytical detection and monitoring approaches for these target ECs; and (3) the biological impacts of the ECs on humans and other trophic levels. This review provides a summary of recent advances in the field and remaining knowledge gaps to address, to enable the assessment of risk and support the development of regulations and mitigation technologies for the control of ECs in the marine environment.

Ecotoxicological effects of losartan on the brown mussel Perna perna and its occurrence in seawater from Santos Bay (Brazil)

The antihypertensive losartan (LOS) has been detected in wastewater and environmental matrices, however further studies focused on assessing the ecotoxicological effects on aquatic ecosystems are necessary. Considering the intensive use of this pharmaceutical and its discharges into coastal zones, our study aimed to determine the environmental concentrations of LOS in seawater, as well as to assess the biological effects of LOS on the marine bivalve Perna perna. For this purpose, fertilization rate and embryolarval development were evaluated through standardized assays. Phase I (ethoxyresorufin O‑deethylase EROD and dibenzylfluorescein dealkylase DBF) and II (glutathione S-transferase GST) enzymes, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), Cholinesterase (ChE), lipoperoxidation (LPO) and DNA damage were used to analyze sublethal responses in gills and digestive gland of adult individuals. Lysosomal membrane stability was also assessed in hemocytes. Our results showed the occurrence of LOS in 100% of the analyzed water samples located in Santos Bay, Sao Paulo, Brazil, in a range of 0.2 ng/L-8.7 ng/L. Effects on reproductive endpoints were observed after short-term exposure to concentrations up to 75 mg/L. Biomarker responses demonstrated the induction of CYP450 like activity and GST in mussel gills exposed to 300 and 3000 ng/L of LOS, respectively. GPx activity was also increased in concentration of exposure to 3000 ng/L of LOS. Cyto-genotoxic effects were found in gills and hemocytes exposed in concentrations up to 300 ng/L. These results highlighted the concern of introducing this class of contaminants into marine environments, and pointed out the need to include antihypertensive compounds in environmental monitoring programs.