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Lin H, Zhou L, Lu S, Yang H, Li Y, Yang X. Occurrence and spatiotemporal distribution of natural and synthetic steroid hormones in soil, water, and sediment systems in suburban agricultural area of Guangzhou City, China. J Hazard Mater 2024; 470:134288. [PMID: 38626685 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024]
Abstract
Steroid hormones are highly potent compounds that can disrupt the endocrine systems of aquatic organisms. This study explored the spatiotemporal distribution of 49 steroid hormones in agricultural soils, ditch water, and sediment from suburban areas of Guangzhou City, China. The average concentrations of Σsteroid hormones in the water, soils, and sediment were 97.7 ng/L, 4460 ng/kg, and 9140 ng/kg, respectively. Elevated hormone concentrations were notable in water during the flood season compared to the dry season, whereas an inverse trend was observed in soils and sediment. These observations were attributed to illegal wastewater discharge during the flood season, and sediment partitioning of hormones and manure fertilization during the dry season. Correlation analysis further showed that population, precipitation, and number of slaughtered animals significantly influenced the spatial distribution of steroid hormones across various districts. Moreover, there was substantial mass transfer among the three media, with steroid hormones predominantly distributed in the sediment (60.8 %) and soils (34.4 %). Risk quotients, calculated as the measured concentration and predicted no-effect concentration, exceeded 1 at certain sites for some hormones, indicating high risks. This study reveals that the risk assessment of steroid hormones requires consideration of their spatiotemporal variability and inter-media mass transfer dynamics in agroecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Lin
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Joint Institute for Environment & Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China
| | - Liangzhuo Zhou
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Joint Institute for Environment & Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China
| | - Shudong Lu
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Joint Institute for Environment & Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China
| | - Han Yang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Joint Institute for Environment & Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China
| | - Yongtao Li
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Joint Institute for Environment & Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China; Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation (South China), MOA, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Land Use and Consolidation, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
| | - Xingjian Yang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Joint Institute for Environment & Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China; Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation (South China), MOA, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Land Use and Consolidation, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
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2
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Rutkoski CF, Grott SC, Israel NG, Guerreiro FDC, Carneiro FE, Bitschinski D, Warsneski A, Horn PA, Lima D, Bastolla CLV, Mattos JJ, Bainy ACD, da Silva EB, de Albuquerque CAC, Alves TC, de Almeida EA. Prednisone and prednisolone effects on development, blood, biochemical and histopathological markers of Aquarana catesbeianus tadpoles. Aquat Toxicol 2024; 268:106869. [PMID: 38387247 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2024.106869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Synthetic glucocorticoids are often found in surface waters and can cause harmful effects to aquatic organisms such as amphibians. In this work we evaluated the effects of the drugs prednisone (PD) and prednisolone (PL) on developmental, molecular, blood, biochemical and histological markers. Aquarana catesbeianus tadpoles were exposed for 16 days to environmentally relevant concentrations of 0, 0.1, 1 and 10 µg/L of both drugs. PD increased the transcript levels of the enzyme deiodinase III (Dio3), the hormones cortisol and T4 and delayed development. Changes in the thyroid gland occurred after tadpoles were exposed to both drugs, with a reduction in the diameter and number of follicles and an increase/or decrease in area. Also, both drugs caused a decrease in lymphocytes (L) and an increase in neutrophils (N), thrombocytes, the N:L ratio and lobed and notched erythrocytes. Increased activity of the enzymes superoxide dismutase, glutathione S-transferase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase was observed after exposure to PD. Furthermore, both drugs caused an increase in the activity of the enzymes catalase and glutathione peroxidase. However, only PD caused oxidative stress in exposed tadpoles, evidenced by increased levels of malondialdehyde and carbonyl proteins. Both drugs caused an increase in inflammatory infiltrates, blood cells and melanomacrophages in the liver. Our results indicate that PD was more toxic than PL, affecting development and causing oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Fatima Rutkoski
- Environmental Engineering Post-Graduation Program, University of Blumenau, Blumenau, SC, Brazil
| | - Suelen Cristina Grott
- Environmental Engineering Post-Graduation Program, University of Blumenau, Blumenau, SC, Brazil
| | - Nicole Grasmuk Israel
- Environmental Engineering Post-Graduation Program, University of Blumenau, Blumenau, SC, Brazil
| | | | | | - Daiane Bitschinski
- Biodiversity Post-Graduation Program, University of Blumenau, Blumenau, SC, Brazil
| | - Aline Warsneski
- Environmental Engineering Post-Graduation Program, University of Blumenau, Blumenau, SC, Brazil
| | - Priscila Aparecida Horn
- Environmental Engineering Post-Graduation Program, University of Blumenau, Blumenau, SC, Brazil
| | - Daína Lima
- Laboratory of Biomarkers of Aquatic Contamination and Immunochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Catarina, UFSC, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Camila Lisarb Velasquez Bastolla
- Laboratory of Biomarkers of Aquatic Contamination and Immunochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Catarina, UFSC, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Jacó Joaquim Mattos
- Laboratory of Biomarkers of Aquatic Contamination and Immunochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Catarina, UFSC, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Afonso Celso Dias Bainy
- Laboratory of Biomarkers of Aquatic Contamination and Immunochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Catarina, UFSC, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | | | | | - Thiago Caique Alves
- Environmental Engineering Post-Graduation Program, University of Blumenau, Blumenau, SC, Brazil
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Margiotta-Casaluci L, Owen SF, Winter MJ. Cross-Species Extrapolation of Biological Data to Guide the Environmental Safety Assessment of Pharmaceuticals-The State of the Art and Future Priorities. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024; 43:513-525. [PMID: 37067359 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The extrapolation of biological data across species is a key aspect of biomedical research and drug development. In this context, comparative biology considerations are applied with the goal of understanding human disease and guiding the development of effective and safe medicines. However, the widespread occurrence of pharmaceuticals in the environment and the need to assess the risk posed to wildlife have prompted a renewed interest in the extrapolation of pharmacological and toxicological data across the entire tree of life. To address this challenge, a biological "read-across" approach, based on the use of mammalian data to inform toxicity predictions in wildlife species, has been proposed as an effective way to streamline the environmental safety assessment of pharmaceuticals. Yet, how effective has this approach been, and are we any closer to being able to accurately predict environmental risk based on known human risk? We discuss the main theoretical and experimental advancements achieved in the last 10 years of research in this field. We propose that a better understanding of the functional conservation of drug targets across species and of the quantitative relationship between target modulation and adverse effects should be considered as future research priorities. This pharmacodynamic focus should be complemented with the application of higher-throughput experimental and computational approaches to accelerate the prediction of internal exposure dynamics. The translation of comparative (eco)toxicology research into real-world applications, however, relies on the (limited) availability of experts with the skill set needed to navigate the complexity of the problem; hence, we also call for synergistic multistakeholder efforts to support and strengthen comparative toxicology research and education at a global level. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:513-525. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Margiotta-Casaluci
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Stewart F Owen
- Global Sustainability, AstraZeneca, Macclesfield, Cheshire, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew J Winter
- Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom
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Kidd KA, Backhaus T, Brodin T, Inostroza PA, McCallum ES. Environmental Risks of Pharmaceutical Mixtures in Aquatic Ecosystems: Reflections on a Decade of Research. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024; 43:549-558. [PMID: 37530415 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) occur as variable mixtures in surface waters receiving discharges of human and animal wastes. A key question identified a decade ago is how to assess the effects of long-term exposures of these PPCP mixtures on nontarget organisms. We review the recent progress made on assessing the aquatic ecotoxicity of PPCP mixtures-with a focus on active pharmaceutical ingredients-and the challenges and research needs that remain. New knowledge has arisen from the use of whole-mixture testing combined with component-based approaches, and these studies show that mixtures often result in responses that meet the concentration addition model. However, such studies have mainly been done on individual species over shorter time periods, and longer-term, multispecies assessments remain limited. The recent use of targeted and nontargeted gene analyses has improved our understanding of the diverse pathways that are impacted, and there are promising new "read-across" methods that use mammalian data to predict toxicity in wildlife. Risk assessments remain challenging given the paucity of ecotoxicological and exposure data on PPCP mixtures. As such, the assessment of PPCP mixtures in aquatic environments should remain a priority given the potential for additive-as well as nontarget-effects in nontarget organisms. In addition, we need to improve our understanding of which species, life stages, and relevant endpoints are most sensitive to which types of PPCP mixtures and to expand our knowledge of environmental PPCP levels in regions of the globe that have been poorly studied to date. We recommend an increased use of new approach methodologies, in particular "omics," to advance our understanding of the molecular mechanics of mixture effects. Finally, we call for systematic research on the role of PPCP mixtures in the development of antimicrobial resistance. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:549-558. © 2023 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen A Kidd
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- School of Earth, Environment and Society, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Thomas Backhaus
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Tomas Brodin
- Department of Wildlife, Fish & Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Pedro A Inostroza
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Erin S McCallum
- Department of Wildlife, Fish & Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
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5
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Blackburn C, Sullivan MV, Wild MI, O' Connor AJ, Turner NW. Utilisation of molecularly imprinting technology for the detection of glucocorticoids for a point of care surface plasmon resonance (SPR) device. Anal Chim Acta 2024; 1285:342004. [PMID: 38057055 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2023.342004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Herein, we describe the synthesis and characterisation of four synthetic recognition materials (nanoMIPs) selective for the glucocorticoid steroids - prednisolone, prednisone, dexamethasone, and cortisone. Using a solid-phase synthesis approach, these materials were then applied in the development of a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor for the detection of these four targets in doped urine, to mimic the routine testing of agricultural waste for possible environmental exposure. The synthesised particles displayed a range of sizes between 104 and 160 nm. Affinity studies were performed, and these synthetic materials were shown to display nanomolar affinities (15.9-62.8 nM) towards their desired targets. Furthermore, we conducted cross-reactivity studies to assess the materials selectivity towards their desired target and the materials showed excellent selectivity when compared to the non-desired target, with selectivity factors calculated. Furthermore, through the use of 3D visualisation it can be seen that small changes between structures (such as a hydroxyl to ketone transformation) there is excellent selectivity between the compounds in the ranges of 100 fold plus. Using Surine™ doped samples the materials offered comparable nanomolar affinities (10.7-75.7 nM) towards their targets when compared to the standardised buffer preparation. Detection levels in urine for all compounds was in the nanomolar range. The developed sensor offers potential for these devices to be used in the prevention of these pharmaceutical compounds to enter the surrounding environment through agricultural waste through monitoring at source. Likewise, they can be used to monitor use in clinical samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chester Blackburn
- Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Dainton Building, 13 Brook Hill, Sheffield, S3 7HF, UK
| | - Mark V Sullivan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Dainton Building, 13 Brook Hill, Sheffield, S3 7HF, UK
| | - Molly I Wild
- Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Dainton Building, 13 Brook Hill, Sheffield, S3 7HF, UK
| | - Abbie J O' Connor
- Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Dainton Building, 13 Brook Hill, Sheffield, S3 7HF, UK
| | - Nicholas W Turner
- Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Dainton Building, 13 Brook Hill, Sheffield, S3 7HF, UK.
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Leng C, Wang Q, Zhang G, Xu M, Yang X. Transport of prednisolone, cortisone, and triamcinolone acetonide in agricultural soils: Sorption isotherms, transport dynamics, and field-scale simulation. Environ Res 2023; 239:117287. [PMID: 37813136 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
The occurrence of glucocorticoids (GCs) in agricultural soils has raised concerns due to their high polarity, widespread biological effects in vertebrates, and their potential to disrupt vital processes such as glucose metabolism and immune function. This study investigated the sorption and transport dynamics of three GCs, namely cortisone (COR), prednisolone (PNL), and triamcinolone acetonide (TCA) in five soil-water systems (S1-S5 systems). The sorption data of the GCs were fitted to a linear sorption model (R2 = 0.95-0.99), with organic carbon (OC) normalized sorption coefficients ranging from 2.26 ± 0.02 to 3.36 ± 0.02. The sorption magnitudes (Kd) of the GCs exhibited a nearly linear correlation with their corresponding octanol-water partition coefficients (logKow) in the S1-S3 systems. However, some deviations from linearity were observed in the S4 and S5 systems. Furthermore, a strong correlation was observed between the Kd values of the GCs and the OC% of the soils. These data indicated that specific and hydrophobic partitioning interactions governed the sorption of GCs onto soils. The transport data of the GCs were fitted to a two-site nonequilibrium model using the CXTFIT program (R2 = 0.82-0.98). The retardation factor (R) for each GC exhibited a positive correlation with the OC% and clay contents of soils. Additionally, the relationships between the logR values and logKow values of the GCs deviated slightly from linear correlation in most columns. These results indicated that specific interactions in the columns were more pronounced compared to the batch systems. An initial field-scale simulation demonstrated that frequent precipitation can facilitate the dilution and vertical transport of the GCs through soil profiles. The transport potential of the GCs was affected by the properties and soils and GCs. Overall, these findings provide valuable insights into the transport potential and associated environmental risks of GCs in soil-water systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Leng
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Joint Institute for Environment & Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China
| | - Qingwei Wang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Joint Institute for Environment & Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China
| | - Ge Zhang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Joint Institute for Environment & Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China
| | - Manxin Xu
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Joint Institute for Environment & Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China
| | - Xingjian Yang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Joint Institute for Environment & Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Land Use and Consolidation, Guangzhou 510642, PR China.
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7
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Wang C, Li M, Gui W, Shi H, Wang P, Chen J, Fent K, Zhang K, Dai J, Li X, Zhao Y. Prednisolone Accelerates Embryonic Development of Zebrafish via Glucocorticoid Receptor Signaling at Low Concentrations. Environ Sci Technol 2023; 57:15794-15805. [PMID: 37812749 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c02658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic glucocorticoids have been widely detected in aquatic ecosystems and may pose a toxicological risk to fish. In the present study, we described multiple end point responses of zebrafish to a commonly prescribed glucocorticoid, prednisolone (PREL), at concentrations between 0.001 and 9.26 μg/L. Of 23 end points monitored, 7 were affected significantly. Significant increases in the frequency of yolk extension formation, spontaneous contraction, heart rate, and ocular melanin density and significant decreases of ear-eye distance at PREL concentrations of 0.001 μg/L and above clearly pointed to the acceleration of embryonic development of zebrafish by PREL. Further confirmation came from the alterations in somite numbers, head-trunk angle, and yolk sac size, as well as outcomes obtained via RNA sequencing, in which signaling pathways involved in tissue/organ growth and development were highly enriched in embryos upon PREL exposure. In addition, the crucial role of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) for PREL-induced effects was confirmed by both, the coexposure to antagonist mifepristone (RU486) and GR-/- mutant zebrafish experiments. We further demonstrated similar accelerations of embryonic development of zebrafish upon exposure to 11 additional glucocorticoids, indicating generic adverse effect characteristics. Overall, our results revealed developmental alterations of PREL in fish embryos at low concentrations and thus provided novel insights into the understanding of the potential environmental risks of glucocorticoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congcong Wang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Meng Li
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Wanying Gui
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Haochun Shi
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Peng Wang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Jierong Chen
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Karl Fent
- Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollution Dynamics, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, CH-8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Kun Zhang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Jiayin Dai
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Xi Li
- Center of Clinical Research, The Affiliated Kangning Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China
| | - Yanbin Zhao
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
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8
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Matthee C, Brown AR, Lange A, Tyler CR. Factors Determining the Susceptibility of Fish to Effects of Human Pharmaceuticals. Environ Sci Technol 2023; 57:8845-8862. [PMID: 37288931 PMCID: PMC10286317 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c09576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The increasing levels and frequencies at which active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are being detected in the environment are of significant concern, especially considering the potential adverse effects they may have on nontarget species such as fish. With many pharmaceuticals lacking environmental risk assessments, there is a need to better define and understand the potential risks that APIs and their biotransformation products pose to fish, while still minimizing the use of experimental animals. There are both extrinsic (environment- and drug-related) and intrinsic (fish-related) factors that make fish potentially vulnerable to the effects of human drugs, but which are not necessarily captured in nonfish tests. This critical review explores these factors, particularly focusing on the distinctive physiological processes in fish that underlie drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity (ADMET). Focal points include the impact of fish life stage and species on drug absorption (A) via multiple routes; the potential implications of fish's unique blood pH and plasma composition on the distribution (D) of drug molecules throughout the body; how fish's endothermic nature and the varied expression and activity of drug-metabolizing enzymes in their tissues may affect drug metabolism (M); and how their distinctive physiologies may impact the relative contribution of different excretory organs to the excretion (E) of APIs and metabolites. These discussions give insight into where existing data on drug properties, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics from mammalian and clinical studies may or may not help to inform on environmental risks of APIs in fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrisna Matthee
- Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon EX4 4QD, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Ross Brown
- Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon EX4 4QD, United Kingdom
| | - Anke Lange
- Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon EX4 4QD, United Kingdom
| | - Charles R. Tyler
- Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon EX4 4QD, United Kingdom
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Su M, Zhong Y, Xiang J, Chen Y, Liu N, Zhang J. Reproductive endocrine disruption and gonadal intersex induction in male Japanese medaka chronically exposed to betamethasone at environmentally relevant levels. J Hazard Mater 2023; 455:131493. [PMID: 37156043 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The broad utilization of betamethasone in medical treatments may pose a significant ecotoxicological risk to aquatic organisms, yet its potential reproductive toxicity remains unclear. The present study examined the impacts of environmental exposure on male reproduction using Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes). After 110 days of betamethasone exposure at environmentally relevant concentrations (0, 20 and 200 ng/L), LH/FSH synthesis and release in the pituitary was inhibited, and the production of sex hormones and their signaling pathways in the gonads of male medaka were greatly influenced. This synthetic glucocorticoid restrained testosterone (T) synthesis and gave rise to a significant increase in E2/T and E2/11-KT ratios. Furthermore, chronic betamethasone exposure (20 and 200 ng/L) led to the suppression of androgen receptor (AR) signaling and enhancement of estrogen receptors (ERs) signaling. An increase in hepatic vitellogenin contents was also detected, and testicular oocytes were observed in both 20 and 200 ng/L betamethasone-treated groups. It showed that 20 and 200 ng/L betamethasone could induce male feminization and even intersex, triggering abnormal spermatogenesis in medaka males. With its adverse effects on male fertility, betamethasone could potentially influence the fishery productivity and population dynamics in aquatic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maoliang Su
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresource & Eco-Environmental Science, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Youling Zhong
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresource & Eco-Environmental Science, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Jiazhi Xiang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresource & Eco-Environmental Science, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Yuru Chen
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Nanxi Liu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresource & Eco-Environmental Science, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Junbin Zhang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresource & Eco-Environmental Science, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China.
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Cole AR, Brooks BW. Global occurrence of synthetic glucocorticoids and glucocorticoid receptor agonistic activity, and aquatic hazards in effluent discharges and freshwater systems. Environ Pollut 2023; 329:121638. [PMID: 37080519 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
With a growing global population comes an increase in pharmaceutical usage and a concentration of pharmaceutical consumption in urban areas, which release diverse chemicals and waste to the environment. Because synthetic glucocorticoids have been identified as endocrine disruptors and environmental contaminants of emerging concern, we conducted a global scanning assessment of these pharmaceuticals in wastewater effluents and freshwater systems. Thirty-seven synthetic glucocorticoids were identified, and available information on environmental occurrence of specific substances was critically reviewed from the peer-reviewed literature. We developed probabilistic environmental exposure distributions for synthetic glucocorticoids, and further considered glucocorticoid receptor agonistic activity from biomonitoring efforts using in vitro methods. When sufficient data was available, we then performed probabilistic environmental hazard assessments using predicted no effect concentrations, therapeutic hazard values and in vitro bioactivity information (AC50 values) for specific glucocorticoids. We observed pronounced differences for aquatic monitoring data among geographic regions; information is not available from many regions where most of the global population resides. We identified differences between analytical chemistry derived occurrence values for specific chemicals and biomonitoring results from seven different in vitro assays, which suggests that compounds not previously preselected for targeted analyses contribute to glucocorticoid receptor agonism in effluent discharges and aquatic systems. Our observations further identify the importance of advancing nontargeted analyses and research on in vitro to in vivo extrapolation of aquatic hazards. Though aquatic toxicology information is lacking for most of these substances, we observed diverse aquatic hazards for several synthetic glucocorticoids, and these observations varied by aquatic matrix and among geographic regions. This study identifies timely data gaps and can inform future environmentally relevant chemistry and toxicology efforts examining synthetic glucocorticoids in aquatic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander R Cole
- Department of Environmental Science, Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA
| | - Bryan W Brooks
- Department of Environmental Science, Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA.
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Coors A, Brown AR, Maynard SK, Nimrod Perkins A, Owen S, Tyler CR. Minimizing Experimental Testing on Fish for Legacy Pharmaceuticals. Environ Sci Technol 2023; 57:1721-1730. [PMID: 36653019 PMCID: PMC9893720 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c07222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
There was no regulatory requirement for ecotoxicological testing of human pharmaceuticals authorized before 2006, and many of these have little or no data available to assess their environmental risk. Motivated by animal welfare considerations, we developed a decision tree to minimize in vivo fish testing for such legacy active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). The minimum no observed effect concentration (NOECmin, the lowest NOEC from chronic Daphnia and algal toxicity studies), the theoretical therapeutic water concentration (TWC, calculated using the fish plasma model), and the predicted environmental concentration (PEC) were used to derive API risk quotients (PEC/NOECmin and PEC/TWC). Based on a verification data set of 96 APIs, we show that by setting a threshold value of 0.001 for both risk quotients, the need for in vivo fish testing could potentially be reduced by around 35% without lowering the level of environmental protection. Hence, for most APIs, applying an assessment factor of 1000 (equivalent to the threshold of 0.001) to NOECmin substituted reliably for NOECfish, and TWC acted as an effective safety net for the others. In silico and in vitro data and mammalian toxicity data may further support the final decision on the need for fish testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Coors
- ECT
Oekotoxikologie GmbH, Böttgerstraße 2-14, 65439 Flörsheim/Main, Germany
| | - A. Ross Brown
- Biosciences, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker
Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, Devon, U.K.
| | - Samuel K. Maynard
- Global
Sustainability, AstraZeneca, Eastbrook House, Shaftesbury Road, Cambridge CB2 8DU, U.K.
| | - Alison Nimrod Perkins
- Eli
Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285, United States
| | - Stewart Owen
- Global
Sustainability, AstraZeneca, Eastbrook House, Shaftesbury Road, Cambridge CB2 8DU, U.K.
| | - Charles R. Tyler
- Biosciences, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker
Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, Devon, U.K.
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Zhang A, Luo Y, Jia A, Park M, Daniels KD, Nie X, Wu S, Snyder SA. Adsorption kinetics of 20 glucocorticoids at environmentally relevant concentrations in wastewater by powdered activated carbons and development of surrogate models. J Water Process Eng 2022; 50:103279. [PMID: 36349294 PMCID: PMC9634149 DOI: 10.1016/j.jwpe.2022.103279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids (GCs) are widely used in the treatment of the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19), and the toxicity of GCs to aquatic organisms has aroused widespread concern. Powdered activated carbon (PAC) has proven effective in removing various trace organic pollutants. In this study, the adsorption behaviors of 20 typical GCs onto PACs were investigated at environmentally relevant concentrations (ng/L) in real wastewater, using four commercially available PACs (HDB, WPH, 20BF, PWA). The results showed that PAC adsorption was feasible for GC removal at ng/L concentrations. After adsorption for 60 min, the GC removal efficiencies obtained by HDB, WPH, 20BF, and PWA were 90-98 %, 89-97 %, 84-96 %, and 71-90 %, respectively. The adsorption processes of 20 GCs on PACs were well fitted by the pseudo-second-order kinetics model (with R 2 >0.98). Among the four PACs, HDB achieved the highest rates because of the electrostatic attraction between HDB (positively charged) and the complex of GCs and natural organic matter (GC-NOM, negatively charged). Among the 20 GCs, compounds with substitutions of halogen atoms or five-membered rings at C-17 achieved higher adsorption rates because of the enhanced formation of hydrogen bonds and a resulting increase in electron density. In addition, surrogate models with total fluorescence (TF) and ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm (UV254) were developed to monitor the attenuation trend of GCs during adsorption processes. Compared with the UV254 model, the TF model showed better sensitivity to GC monitoring, which could greatly simplify the water quality monitoring process and facilitate online monitoring of GCs in water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ai Zhang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, 2999 North Renmin Road, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Yuxin Luo
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, 2999 North Renmin Road, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Ai Jia
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, 1133 E. James E. Rogers Way, Harshbarger 108, Tucson, AZ 85721-0011, USA
- Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Water Quality Laboratory, La Verne, CA 91750, USA
| | - Minkyu Park
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, 1133 E. James E. Rogers Way, Harshbarger 108, Tucson, AZ 85721-0011, USA
| | - Kevin D Daniels
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, 1133 E. James E. Rogers Way, Harshbarger 108, Tucson, AZ 85721-0011, USA
- Stantec Inc., 3133 W Frye Rd Suite 300, Chandler, AZ 85226, USA
| | - Xuhao Nie
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, 1133 E. James E. Rogers Way, Harshbarger 108, Tucson, AZ 85721-0011, USA
| | - Shimin Wu
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, 1133 E. James E. Rogers Way, Harshbarger 108, Tucson, AZ 85721-0011, USA
- Jiangsu Shuangliang Environmental Technology Co., Ltd., Jiangyin 214444, China
| | - Shane A Snyder
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, 1133 E. James E. Rogers Way, Harshbarger 108, Tucson, AZ 85721-0011, USA
- Nanyang Technological University, Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute, 1 Cleantech Loop, CleanTech One, #06-08, 637141, Singapore
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Finckh S, Buchinger S, Escher BI, Hollert H, König M, Krauss M, Leekitratanapisan W, Schiwy S, Schlichting R, Shuliakevich A, Brack W. Endocrine disrupting chemicals entering European rivers: Occurrence and adverse mixture effects in treated wastewater. Environ Int 2022; 170:107608. [PMID: 36343551 PMCID: PMC9720157 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
In the present study on endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in treated wastewater, we used chemical and effect-based tools to analyse 56 wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents from 15 European countries. The main objectives were (i) to compare three different receptor-based estrogenicity assays (ERα-GeneBLAzer, p-YES, ERα-CALUX®), and (ii) to investigate a combined approach of chemical target analysis and receptor-based testing for estrogenicity, glucocorticogenic activity, androgenicity and progestagenic activity (ERα-, GR-, AR- and PR-GeneBLAzer assays, respectively) in treated wastewater. A total of 56 steroids and phenols were detected at concentrations ranging from 25 pg/L (estriol, E3) up to 2.4 μg/L (cortisone). WWTP effluents, which passed an advanced treatment via ozonation or via activated carbon, were found to be less contaminated, in terms of lower or no detection of steroids and phenols, as well as hormone receptor-mediated effects. This result was confirmed by the effect screening, including the three ERα-bioassays. In the GeneBLAzer assays, ERα-activity was detected in 82 %, and GR-activity in 73 % of the samples, while AR- and PR-activity were only measured in 14 % and 21 % of the samples, respectively. 17β-estradiol was confirmed as the estrogen dominating the observed estrogenic mixture effect and triamcinolone acetonide was the dominant driver of glucocorticogenic activity. The comparison of bioanalytical equivalent concentrations (BEQ) predicted from the detected concentrations and the relative effect potency (BEQchem) with measured BEQ (BEQbio) demonstrated good correlations of chemical target analysis and receptor-based testing results with deviations mostly within a factor of 10. Bioassay-specific effect-based trigger values (EBTs) from the literature, but also newly calculated EBTs based on previously proposed derivation options, were applied and allowed a preliminary assessment of the water quality of the tested WWTP effluent samples. Overall, this study demonstrates the high potential of linking chemical with effect-based analysis in water quality assessment with regard to EDC contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saskia Finckh
- Department of Effect-Directed Analysis, UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany; Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Environmental Toxicology, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Sebastian Buchinger
- Department of Biochemistry and Ecotoxicology, Federal Institute for Hydrology - BfG, Koblenz, Germany
| | - Beate I Escher
- Department of Cell Toxicology, UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany; Environmental Toxicology, Department of Geosciences, Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Henner Hollert
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Environmental Toxicology, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Maria König
- Department of Cell Toxicology, UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Martin Krauss
- Department of Effect-Directed Analysis, UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Warich Leekitratanapisan
- Environmental Toxicology Unit - GhEnToxLab, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sabrina Schiwy
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Environmental Toxicology, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Rita Schlichting
- Department of Cell Toxicology, UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Aliaksandra Shuliakevich
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Environmental Toxicology, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Werner Brack
- Department of Effect-Directed Analysis, UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany; Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Environmental Toxicology, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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Miao W, He L, Zhang Y, Zhu X, Jiang Y, Liu P, Zhang T, Li C. Ferroptosis is partially responsible for dexamethasone-induced T cell ablation, but not osteoporosis in larval zebrafish. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2022; 242:113872. [PMID: 35835076 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids (GCs) have been widely detected in the aquatic system. However, the hazardous effects of GCs on aquatic organisms were underestimated, and the mechanisms of GCs-induced toxic effects in fish were largely unknown. The zebrafish larvae at 3 dpf were exposed to dexamethasone (DEX) for 48 h, and the toxic effects and the underlying mechanisms were investigated in the current study. The T cells were ablated in zebrafish larvae after being treated with 1, 3, 10, 30 and 100 μM of DEX for 48 h. In addition, osteoporosis was induced and the regeneration of the caudal fin was inhibited, by 48 h-exposure to 10, 30 and 100 μM of DEX. The transcriptomic analysis, biochemical parameters and gene expression profiles revealed that ferroptosis possibly contributed to the DEX-induced toxic effects in zebrafish larvae. Finally, Fer-1 treatment partially attenuated the DEX-induced T cell ablation, but not osteoporosis in zebrafish larvae. Taken together, the current study proved the toxic effects of DEX on zebrafish larvae, and elucidated that ferroptosis was involved in DEX-induced toxicity, providing strong evidence for the toxic effects of GCs on aquatic organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyu Miao
- School of Public Health, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China; Hunter Biotechnology, Inc., Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310051, China.
| | - Lingling He
- Hunter Biotechnology, Inc., Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310051, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Hunter Biotechnology, Inc., Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310051, China
| | - Xiaoyu Zhu
- Hunter Biotechnology, Inc., Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310051, China
| | - Yangming Jiang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biosafety Detection for Market Regulation, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China; Zhejiang Fangyuan Test Group Co., Ltd, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China
| | - Pengpeng Liu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biosafety Detection for Market Regulation, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China; Zhejiang Fangyuan Test Group Co., Ltd, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China
| | - Tao Zhang
- Hunter Biotechnology, Inc., Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310051, China
| | - Chunqi Li
- Hunter Biotechnology, Inc., Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310051, China
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