Bioaccumulation, internal distribution and toxicity of bisphenol S in the earthworm Eisenia fetida

Do (xeno)estrogens pose a risk to earthworms? Soy isoflavones and estradiol impact gonad structure and induce oxidative stress in Eisenia fetida

Understanding the impact of endocrine disruptor compounds (EDCs) across a wide range of species is crucial, given their ubiquitous presence. Although invertebrate species lack sex steroid hormone pathways, they exhibit sensitivity to EDCs, which could affect population dynamics. This study assessed reproductive endpoints and oxidative stress parameters in Eisenia fetida following exposure to estradiol and soy isoflavones, resembling the concentrations found in livestock manure. The experiment used artificial soil, as recommended by OECD guidelines (7:2:1 sand, kaolin and peat). Adult specimens were randomly divided into seven groups (n = 11/replicate): one control, three estradiol (156.1, 283.4 and 633.8 μg/kg of dry soil) and three soy isoflavones (113.0, 215.3 and 405.0 mg/kg of dry soil) concentrations. After eight weeks, samples were collected for cytological, histological and biochemical analysis. Offspring development was assessed after 12 additional weeks. Higher estradiol and isoflavone concentrations led to lower germ cell number and increased abnormalities, especially in the seminal vesicles and ovaries. Catalase and peroxidase activities were significantly increased in all treated groups. The exposure did not significantly affect the number of E. fetida offspring. These findings highlight E. fetida's sensitivity to EDCs at a biochemical and tissue level, suggesting its use as a bioindicator for assessing EDC contamination in soils.

Exploring BPA alternatives - Environmental levels and toxicity review

Bisphenol A alternatives are manufactured as potentially less harmful substitutes of bisphenol A (BPA) that offer similar functionality. These alternatives are already in the market, entering the environment and thus raising ecological concerns. However, it can be expected that levels of BPA alternatives will dominate in the future, they are limited information on their environmental safety. The EU PARC project highlights BPA alternatives as priority chemicals and consolidates information on BPA alternatives, with a focus on environmental relevance and on the identification of the research gaps. The review highlighted aspects and future perspectives. In brief, an extension of environmental monitoring is crucial, extending it to cover BPA alternatives to track their levels and facilitate the timely implementation of mitigation measures. The biological activity has been studied for BPA alternatives, but in a non-systematic way and prioritized a limited number of chemicals. For several BPA alternatives, the data has already provided substantial evidence regarding their potential harm to the environment. We stress the importance of conducting more comprehensive assessments that go beyond the traditional reproductive studies and focus on overlooked relevant endpoints. Future research should also consider mixture effects, realistic environmental concentrations, and the long-term consequences on biota and ecosystems.

Ecotoxicological impact of naproxen on Eisenia fetida: Unraveling soil contamination risks and the modulating role of microplastics

Soils represent crucial sinks for pharmaceuticals and microplastics, making them hotspots for pharmaceuticals and plastic pollution. Despite extensive research on the toxicity of pharmaceuticals and microplastics individually, there is limited understanding of their combined effects on soil biota. This study focused on the earthworm Eisenia fetida as test organism to evaluate the biotoxicity and bioaccumulation of the typical pharmaceutical naproxen and microplastics in earthworms. Results demonstrated that high concentrations of naproxen (100 mg kg-1) significantly increased the malondialdehyde (MDA) content, inducing lipid peroxidation. Even though the low exposure of naproxen exhibits no significant influence to Eisenia fetida, the lipid peroxidation caused by higher concentration than environmental relevant concentrations necessitate attention due to temporal and spatial concentration variability found in the soil environment. Meanwhile, microplastics caused oxidative damage to antioxidant enzymes by reducing the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and MDA content in earthworms. Metabolome analysis revealed increased lipid metabolism in naproxen-treated group and reduced lipid metabolism in the microplastic-treated group. The co-exposure of naproxen and microplastics exhibited a similar changing trend to the microplastics-treated group, emphasizing the significant influence of microplastics. The detection of numerous including lipids like 17-Hydroxyandrostane-3-glucuronide, lubiprostone, morroniside, and phosphorylcholine, serves to identify potential biomarkers for naproxen and microplastics exposure. Additionally, microplastics increased the concentration of naproxen in earthworms at sub-organ and subcellular level. This study contributes valuable insights into the biotoxicity and distribution of naproxen and microplastics in earthworms, enhancing our understanding of their combined ecological risk to soil biota.

Emerging organic contaminants in the soil-plant-receptor continuum: transport, fate, health risks, and removal mechanisms

There is a lack of comprehensive reviews tracking emerging organic contaminants (EOCs) within the soil-plant continuum using the source-pathway-receptor-impact-mitigation (SPRIM) framework. Therefore, this review examines existing literature to gain insights into the occurrence, behaviour, fate, health hazards, and strategies for mitigating EOCs within the soil-plant system. EOCs identified in the soil-plant system encompass endocrine-disrupting chemicals, surfactants, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, plasticizers, gasoline additives, flame retardants, and per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Sources of EOCs in the soil-plant system include the land application of biosolids, wastewater, and solid wastes rich in EOCs. However, less-studied sources encompass plastics and atmospheric deposition. EOCs are transported from their sources to the soil-plant system and other receptors through human activities, wind-driven processes, and hydrological pathways. The behaviour, persistence, and fate of EOCs within the soil-plant system are discussed, including sorption, degradation, phase partitioning, (bio)transformation, biouptake, translocation, and bioaccumulation in plants. Factors governing the behaviour, persistence, and fate of EOCs in the soil-plant system include pH, redox potential, texture, temperature, and soil organic matter content. The review also discusses the environmental receptors of EOCs, including their exchange with other environmental compartments (aquatic and atmospheric), and interactions with soil organisms. The ecological health risks, human exposure via inhalation of particulate matter and consumption of contaminated food, and hazards associated with various EOCs in the soil-plant system are discussed. Various mitigation measures including removal technologies of EOCs in the soil are discussed. Finally, future research directions are presented.