Biochar mitigates the postponed bioavailability and toxicity of phthalic acid esters in the soil

Corn-derived biochar mitigates oxidative stress and increases the content of essential elements in lettuce leaves grown in phthalate-polluted soil

Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are recognized markers of microplastic pollution of the environment. The study assessed the effects of different biochars (BC) derived from sewage sludge (SS), corn residues (CR), sunflower (SF), and residues from biogas production (BG) on lettuce grown in PAEs-polluted soil. The BC varied in composition, porosity, and carbon structure, with CR-BC exhibiting the highest surface area and optimal aliphatic carbon content, making it the most effective for soil application. SS had the highest heavy metal and PAHs content, though within safe limits. Elevated phosphate levels in lettuce leaves, influenced by high PAHs, ash, and metal content in BC, were associated with increased CAT activity, indicating oxidative stress. A strong positive correlation was found between Cd and phosphate content, especially in SS-treated plants, and between phosphate and B. CR-BC limited heavy metal uptake while promoting beneficial nutrient interactions (such as between Ca and Mg). PAEs accumulation in lettuce was strongly negatively correlated with phosphate and B levels, suggesting these elements reduce pollutant uptake. Among treatments, CR-BC significantly reduced PAEs accumulation in lettuce leaves, which is critical for food safety. CR-BC also enhanced lettuce biomass, chlorophyll content, and nutrient uptake, and it decreased oxidative stress (lower levels of MDA and enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity of SOD and CAT). Conversely, BG-BC negatively affected plant growth, likely due to its high pH. Overall, the findings highlight the importance of BC feedstock properties, with corn-derived BC offering the most beneficial effects on plant health and pollutant mitigation in polluted soils.

Assessing the toxicological effects and mechanism of plasticizer exposure on inflammatory bowel disease based on network toxicology and molecular docking

Phthalates (PAEs) are one of the most commonly used plasticizers. Due to their good performance, they are widely used in daily production, such as food packaging, paints, adhesives, children's toys, lubricants and building materials. However, PAEs usually have weak interactions with polymers, which can easily cause environmental pollution in use. These plasticizers have been linked to various health conditions, including inflammatory disorders. They are less intensively studied in the occurrence of inflammation, especially inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and the necessity to evaluate their pathogenic molecular toxicity is particularly urgent. In this study, network toxicology and molecular docking methods were used to study the toxicological mechanism of IBD induced by four common plasticizers (DBP, DEHP, DEP, DNOP). Potential related targets were predicted using the PharmMapper, SwissStargetPrediction, GeneCards, DisGeNET, OMIM and TTD databases, and 286 related targets were identified. Using Gene Ontology (GO) functional annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment, binding protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) networks and cytoHubba plug-ins, ten relevant signaling pathways (PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, lipid and atherosclerosis, AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, Proteoglycans in cancer, and so on.) and ten hub genes were identified. Four plasticizers (DBP, DEHP, DEP, DNOP) and the top 10 selected Hub gene targets (SRC, KRAS, PIK3CA, PIK3R1, JAK2, PTPN11, PIK3CD, HRAS, PIK3CG, EGFR) were analyzed by molecular docking. This study provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms of plasticizer-induced IBD and highlights the practicality of network toxicology in assessing the toxicity of emerging environmental pollutants. It enhances our understanding of the health risks posed by plasticizers and offers new strategies for mitigating their impact on inflammatory diseases.