Review
Environmental Sciences
Sarah C. Marteinson, Anjelica Bodnaryk, Mark Fry, Nicole Riddell, Robert J. Letcher, Chris Marvin, Gregg T. Tomy, Kim J. Fernie
Summary: DBE-DBCH, as a replacement flame retardant, has not been assessed for risk and regulation but has been found to be a contaminant in various environmental media.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Honglin Huang, Lili Lv, Dan Wang, Bin Guo, Jitao Lv, Lei Luo, Bei Wen, Yuehui Kang
Summary: This study investigated the phytotoxicities of TBECH diastereomers on maize plants, revealing that TBECH could induce the production of reactive oxygen species and affect gene expression in plants, as well as alter the chemical composition of root exudates. These findings provide new insights into the biochemical effects of TBECH on plants, contributing to a better understanding of their stereo-selectivity.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Entai Yang, Bei Wen, Zhenying Zhang, Honglin Huang, Shuzhen Zhang
Summary: This study evaluated the accumulation and depuration of DBE-DBCH and TBCO diastereomers in earthworms and found that different diastereomers exhibited different accumulation and depuration kinetics.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ning Wang, Lin He, Guochun Lv, Xiaomin Sun
Summary: This study investigates the environmental transformation and toxicological implications of TBECH stereoisomers under OH. oxidation in the gas phase using computational chemistry. The results reveal the complexity of TBECH transformation reactions and the diversity of its atmospheric transformation products, with lower toxicity to aquatic organisms but some remaining classified as toxic or harmful, and exhibiting carcinogenic and teratogenic activity. This study provides a deep insight into the transformation mechanism, kinetics, and environmental impacts of atmospheric TBECH for the first time through theoretical calculations.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Qi Wang, Yuefei Ruan, Linjie Jin, Xiaohua Zhang, Jing Li, Yuhe He, Si Wei, James C. W. Lam, Paul K. S. Lam
Summary: The study conducted target, nontarget, and suspect screening of PFASs in the liver of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins and finless porpoises stranded in the South China Sea between 2012 and 2018. Perfluorooctane sulfonate and 6:2 Cl-PFESA were the predominant PFASs found, with significantly higher concentrations in dolphin liver samples than porpoise liver samples. Temporal trends indicated increasing pollution by emerging PFASs, and a risk assessment highlighted potential reproductive injury from the emerging PFAS 6:2 Cl-PFESA in cetaceans.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Spencer E. Fire, Andrea Bogomolni, Robert A. DiGiovanni, Greg Early, Tod A. Leighfield, Keith Matassa, Glenn A. Miller, Kathleen M. T. Moore, Michael Moore, Misty Niemeyer, Katie Pugliares, Zhihong Wang, Frederick W. Wenzel
Summary: This study provides insights into the exposure of marine mammals to toxic algal blooms in New England coastal waters, with STX being more prevalent in Maine coastal waters and DA being more common in offshore samples. Fecal and urine samples were found to be the most useful matrices for detecting toxin presence in exposed animals.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Jia-Yong Lao, Yuefei Ruan, Kenneth M. Y. Leung, Eddy Y. Zeng, Paul K. S. Lam
Summary: This comprehensive review examines the occurrence of organophosphate esters (OPEs) in various environments over the past decade and explores age-specific exposure to OPEs. The results suggest that dietary ingestion is the main exposure pathway, followed by dust ingestion. Exposure in schools/daycare centers and offices contributes significantly to OPE intake in non-adults and adults, respectively. Infants are the most vulnerable group, largely due to breast milk ingestion.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Lihui Zhao, Miaomiao Teng, Xiaoli Zhao, Yunxia Li, Jiaqi Sun, Wentian Zhao, Yuefei Ruan, Kenneth M. Y. Leung, Fengchang Wu
Summary: Legacy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have raised concerns due to their widespread presence in the environment and potential hazards to wildlife and human health. Although there are increasing numbers of effective PFAS alternatives, these alternatives also pose new challenges. This paper reviews how PFASs bind to transport proteins, nuclear receptors, and membranes, and discusses the variations in affinity for endogenous proteins introduced by structural features of PFAS alternatives. The toxic effects and mechanisms of action of legacy PFASs can be compared with their alternatives using binding models, and future studies should integrate in vitro experiments and in silico quantitative structure-activity relationship modeling for better toxicity predictions.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Linjie Jin, Qi Wang, Meng Yan, Jiarui Gu, Kai Zhang, Paul K. S. Lam, Yuefei Ruan
Summary: This study reported for the first time the tissue-specific uptake and depuration kinetics of two pairs of pharmaceutical enantiomers, S-(-)-metoprolol versus R-(+)-metoprolol and S- (+)-venlafaxine versus R-(-)-venlafaxine, in marine medaka. The results showed a higher bioaccumulation potential of S-venlafaxine compared to R-venlafaxine, while there was no significant difference between S- and R-metoprolol. Furthermore, the main metabolites were identified, and the eyes were found to have the highest tissue-specific bioconcentration factors (BCFs) for all four enantiomers.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Eriko Yamazaki, Heesoo Eun, Sachi Taniyasu, Toshihiro Sakamoto, Nobuyasu Hanari, Hideyuki Inui, Rongben Wu, Huiju Lin, Paul K. S. Lam, Jerzy Falandysz, Nobuyoshi Yamashita
Summary: This study investigated the accumulation of PFAS in rice and found that PFAS exists in atmospheric particles, rainwater, irrigated water, soil, and rice plants. PFAS primarily enter the paddy field through atmospheric particles, and rainfall is a significant source of irrigation water contamination. Although there were no major differences in the residual PFAS trends in different rice varieties, the distribution of PFAS in soil, air, and rainwater varied. These findings are important for the daily exposure assessment of PFAS in rice consumption by different populations.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Qi Wang, Yuefei Ruan, Linjie Jin, Lily S. R. Tao, Han Lai, Guifeng Li, Leo W. Y. Yeung, Kenneth M. Y. Leung, Paul K. S. Lam
Summary: The ban/elimination of legacy PFASs has resulted in an increase in the production and use of emerging PFASs. However, the trophodynamics of these emerging PFASs in aquatic food webs are still not well understood. This study investigated the biomagnification potential of legacy and emerging PFASs in seawaters and marine organisms from the South China Sea. Significant trophic magnification was observed for 22 PFASs, including the first reported trophic magnification factors for certain PFASs. The presence of PFASs in seafood from the South China Sea suggests a potential human health risk.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Qi Wang, Yuefei Ruan, Linjie Jin, Brian C. W. Kot, Kenneth Mei Yee Leung, Paul K. S. Lam
Summary: This study conducted target analysis and suspect screening of halogenated flameretardants (HFRs) and their metabolites in the blubber of stranded finless porpoises and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins in Hong Kong between 2013 and 2020. The concentrations of tetra-/penta-/hexa-bromodiphenyl ethers (tetra-/penta-/hexa-BDEs) in porpoises and dolphins decreased over time, possibly due to the phasing out of these chemicals in China. Positive correlation was found between the concentrations of tetra-BDE and Me-MeO-tetra-BDE, suggesting the potential metabolism of tetra-BDE as a source of Me-MeO-tetra-BDE in marine mammals.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jia-Yong Lao, Shaopeng Xu, Kai Zhang, Huiju Lin, Yaru Cao, Rongben Wu, Danyang Tao, Yuefei Ruan, Kenneth Mei Yee Leung, Paul K. S. Lam
Summary: This study analyzed the concentrations of organophosphate esters (OPEs) and their transformation products (TPs) in urban stormwater and wastewater in Hong Kong. The results showed that OPEs and TPs have ecological impacts, and TPs may cause endocrine disruption in marine organisms. A novel framework integrating various factors has been proposed to assess and regulate the risks of these emerging contaminants in urban environments.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yachen Bai, Qi Wang, Jing Li, Bingsheng Zhou, Paul K. S. Lam, Chenyan Hu, Lianguo Chen
Summary: This study examined the influence of chemical speciation on the toxicity of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) and found that PFAAs were generally more toxic than their corresponding pH control, while PFAA salts showed mild hazards. Fingerprinting the changes along the thyroidal axis demonstrated distinct modes of endocrine disruption for PFAAs and PFAA salts. Furthermore, biolayer interferometry monitoring revealed that PFAA acids bound more strongly with albumin proteins than did their salts. These findings highlight the importance of chemical forms in developmental toxicity and call for discriminative risk assessment and management of PFAAs and salts.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yuefei Ruan, Paul K. S. Lam, Jia-Yong Lao, Guangling Huang, Kai Zhang, Qi Wang, Shaopeng Xu, Jiaxue Wu, Kenneth M. Y. Leung, Eddy Y. Zeng, Bensheng Huang
Summary: Due to the lack of monitoring networks and criteria for emerging contaminants in rivers, it is challenging to quantify the influences of human activities on their occurrence and ecological impacts. In this study, organophosphate esters (OPEs) were investigated in the urban estuary of Pearl River Estuary (PRE) in South China. The results showed that OPEs occurrence was mainly influenced by land-based emissions and hydrological conditions. Tributyl phosphate and tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate were identified as priority OPEs, requiring further monitoring and control measures in this estuary. The study indicates that urbanized riverine outlets are more environmentally stressed and have lower resilience to OPE pollution.
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Qi Wang, Yuefei Ruan, Calista N. T. Yuen, Huiju Lin, Leo W. Y. Yeung, Kenneth M. Y. Leung, Paul K. S. Lam
Summary: This review summarizes the advantages of three target analysis supplementary approaches for tracking PFASs in the aquatic environment and proposes considering more targets and developing comprehensive sample treatment strategies. It also suggests including PFASs screened via HRMS in mass balance analysis.
TRAC-TRENDS IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
