Review
Food Science & Technology
Adriana Nowak, Ireneusz Nowak
Summary: Honey is a natural food with pro-health properties but can also be contaminated with environmental pollutants. Research focuses on heavy metals and pesticides in honey, with urban and industrial areas showing higher contamination levels than ecological and rural locations. Propolis and bee pollen contain more pollutants compared to honey. Most toxic pollutants in honey/bee products are not a threat to consumer health, although pesticides and heavy metals are of concern due to exceedance of maximum limits in some studies.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Snezana Strbac, Milica Kasanin-Grubin, Natasa Stojic, Lato Pezo, Biljana Loncar, Roberto Tognetti, Mira Pucarevic
Summary: This study investigated the level and distribution of selected persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in mountain beech forests. The results provide important information for the formulation of environmental protection measures for beech forests.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Merle M. Borges-Ramirez, Griselda Escalona-Segura, Esperanza Huerta-Lwanga, Eduardo Inigo-Elias, Jaime Rendon-von Osten
Summary: Plastics deposited in landfills can fragment and give rise to microplastics containing toxic chemicals, posing a risk of pollutant exposure to black vultures. Research is needed to understand the origin of contaminants in microplastics found in vulture pellets.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Ilker Simsek, Ozgur Kuzukiran, Begum Yurdakok-Dikmen, Ufuk Tansel Sireli, Mehmet Beykaya, Ayhan Filazi
Summary: Honeybees are exposed to various anthropogenic environmental pollutants which can be transferred to their products. This study investigated residues of pesticides, PCBs, PBDEs, and PAHs in honey and propolis, finding that a significant percentage of samples were not suitable for human consumption due to contamination, with propolis more contaminated than honey samples.
JOURNAL OF FOOD COMPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
V Boutet, M. Dominique, K. M. Eccles, M. Branigan, M. Dyck, P. van Coeverden de Groot, S. C. Lougheed, A. Rutter, V. S. Langlois
Summary: Since the industrial era, chemicals have become prevalent in ecosystems worldwide, resulting in the presence of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the Canadian Arctic. These contaminants are a major concern due to their toxicity and ability to accumulate in the food chain, particularly affecting top predators like polar bears. A study investigating the levels of various contaminants in polar bears from the Canadian Arctic confirmed previous findings and emphasized the need for continued monitoring of polar bear health and potential impacts on future generations.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Angeliki C. Charalampous, Chris I. Anagnostopoulos, Michael A. Koupparis
Summary: A new method using GC-SQ-MS system was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of PAHs and NDL-PCBs in fish and fish products. Different solvents and sorbents were studied for efficient extraction and clean up of samples. The method was statistically validated and used for analyzing fish products from the Greek retail market, with none of the samples exceeding the maximum limits set by EU regulations.
ANALYTICAL METHODS
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Diana Danilov, Lorena Dediu, Nicoleta Alexandra Damir, Valentina Coatu, Luminita Lazar
Summary: Anthropogenic activities and limited actions to reduce Black Sea pollution can negatively impact the health of aquatic organisms. This study investigated the accumulation levels of organic pollutants in the tissues of the turbot, a commercially valuable benthic fish species in the Black Sea. The results revealed the dominance of organochlorine pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which pose a risk to human health due to exceeding the maximum allowable concentration for consumption.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Artur Ciemniak, Agata Witczak, Kamila Pokorska-Niewiada
Summary: This study aimed to compare methods for determining PAHs and PCBs in order to simultaneously analyze these compounds from one solvent extract. Dried fruits were used to analyze the content of 15 PCB congeners and 16 PAHs, using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Specific extraction and cleanup procedures were used for separate determination of PAHs and PCBs in each fruit sample. Two methods allowing simultaneous analysis of PAHs and PCBs in one solvent extract were also tested. However, the integrated methods did not provide sufficient extract cleanup, resulting in significantly different results compared to proven determination methods for PAHs and PCBs.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tunde Ogbemi Etchie, Saravanadevi Sivanesan, Ayotunde Titilayo Etchie, Kannan Krishnamurthi, Gregory Olufemi Adewuyi, K. V. George
Summary: Globally, around 9 million lives are claimed by PM2.5 pollution annually, with a quarter of these deaths occurring in India. The current regulation standard for PM2.5 pollution in India is 40 µg/m3, which is eight times higher than the global air quality guideline. However, it is uncertain whether this standard adequately protects against the hazardous components in PM2.5.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiangtao Jiang, Niki Conner, Kaijun Lu, Jace W. Tunnell, Zhanfei Liu
Summary: Nurdles, also known as plastic resin pellets, are a major source of plastic pollution on beaches globally. This study collected nurdles from 24 sites in the coastal bend region of south Texas and investigated their morphologies and associated pollutants. The results showed variations in color, shape, polymer composition, and oxidation degree of the nurdles. PAHs and mercury were detected on nurdles at some sampling sites, indicating potential risks of pollutant exposure to marine organisms in ecosystems.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Michaela Belhacova-Minarikova, Ian Allan, Branislav Vrana
Summary: The contamination of aquatic ecosystems by hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) is often evaluated based on their concentrations in riverbed sediment and suspended particulate matter (SPM). However, the total HOC concentration (C-TOT) in sediment or SPM has limited value in assessing the exposure of benthic or pelagic organisms. The accessible HOC concentration (C-AS) provides a useful parameter for quantifying the overall pool of HOC available for partitioning to the water phase or biota. This study compared C-TOT and C-AS in SPM and sediment samples collected from the Danube River and found that they provide complementary but not interchangeable information on HOC contamination.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiangtao Jiang, Kaijun Lu, Jace W. Tunnell, Zhanfei Liu
Summary: Nurdles, pre-production plastic pellets, are a significant source of plastic pollution in marine environments, primarily made of polyethylene and polypropylene with sorbed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Heavily weathered nurdles tend to have higher concentrations of organic pollutants, and the bioaccessibility of PAHs is higher in lightly weathered nurdles compared to heavily weathered ones. This study provides valuable insights for toxicity assessment and resource management of plastic debris in coastal environments.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Janaki Venkatachalam, Harshavardhan Mohan, Kamala-Kannan Seralathan
Summary: Contamination of soil and water is a pressing concern in today's industrialized world. Bioremediation, with its advantages of degradation or detoxification, non-polluting nature, and cost-effectiveness, has become a promising method. Bacteria, particularly Herbaspirillum sp., have shown great potential in bioremediation of various substances like herbicides, pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, metalloids, and heavy metals.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Sakthivel Selvaraj, Omkar Gaonkar, Bhupander Kumar, Alessandra Cincinelli, Paromita Chakraborty
Summary: The study evaluated the presence of organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soils from the industrial corridor of Mambakkam and Cheyyar SIPCOT belt. The results showed higher concentrations of OCPs in residential areas, while carcinogenic PAHs and PCBs were higher in industrial sites. Combustion processes and e-waste were identified as potential sources of the contaminants in the soil.
ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Robert Ramo, Stefano Bonaglia, Inna Nybom, Anne Kreutzer, Gesine Witt, Anna Sobek, Jonas S. Gunnarsson
Summary: A study compared the remediation efficiency of powdered activated carbon (PAC) and granular activated carbon (GAC) in thin-layer capping for organic contaminants. It was found that PAC performed better, although the use of PAC may have adverse effects on benthic community and non-target areas.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Angel Rodriguez-Hernandez, Ricardo Diaz-Diaz, Manuel Zumbado, Maria del Mar Bernal-Suarez, Andrea Acosta-Dacal, Ana Macias-Montes, Maria del Mar Travieso-Aja, Cristian Rial-Berriel, Luis Alberto Henriquez Hernandez, Luis D. Boada, Octavio P. Luzardo
Summary: The recent volcanic eruption on the island of La Palma has raised concerns about the quality of bananas produced in the area, as elevated levels of various elements were found in sampled bananas. However, washing can help remove some of the contamination. Exposure to toxic or potentially toxic elements in bananas does not pose a significant health risk, even in the worst-case scenario.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Andrea Acosta-Dacal, Maria Eugenia Hernandez-Marrero, Cristian Rial-Berriel, Ricardo Diaz-Diaz, Maria Del Mar Bernal-Suarez, Manuel Zumbado, Luis Alberto Henriquez-Hernandez, Luis D. Boada, Octavio P. Luzardo
Summary: The occurrence of organic pollutants in soil is a major environmental concern. This study analyzed the levels of various organic compounds in agricultural soils in the Macaronesia region and found that pesticides were the most frequently detected compounds. The Canary Islands had the highest number of residues, while Cape Verde had the least contaminated soils.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Maira Almeida-Gonzalez, Luis D. Boada, Guillermo Burillo-Putze, Luis A. Henriquez-Hernandez, Octavio P. Luzardo, Maria P. Quintana-Montesdeoca, Manuel Zumbado
Summary: Ethanol and medical psychotropics (MPs) are legal psychoactive substances widely consumed in Western countries that are routinely detected in standard toxicological analyses at compulsory autopsies, and toxicokinetic interactions between these drugs have been described. However, studies assessing the consequences of this co-consumption are scarce in Europe. We performed a retrospective study on toxicological results from compulsory autopsies in Spain to evaluate the prevalence and determinants of co-consumption of MPs and ethanol. Our results showed a high prevalence of co-consumption of MPs and ethanol in the European population involved in medico-legal issues, especially among men. This suggests that toxicokinetic interactions may be lowering blood alcohol concentrations in men, raising concerns about the appropriateness of legal blood ethanol limits for men on MPs treatment.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Luis Alberto Henriquez-Hernandez, Jaime Rojas-Hernandez, Domingo J. Quintana-Hernandez, Lucas F. Borkel
Summary: This review aims to collect information on the health-hazardous doses of psychedelic substances in order to understand the risks to which patients may be subjected. Despite differences in molecular structures and mechanisms of action, psychedelics are effective at low doses, non-addictive, and harmful at extremely high doses. While no dose has been established as life-threatening for LSD and psilocybin, MDMA appears to be the most dangerous substance, although reports are influenced by recreational misuse.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Seyedeh Malihe Hoseini, Somayeh Namroodi, Amir Sayadshirazi, Annalisa Zaccaroni
Summary: The study found that little information is available on the Caspian seal's exposure to contaminants, especially in Southern sub-populations. Tissue samples collected from 20 Caspian seals revealed the presence of trace elements and pesticides in various body matrices. Age and sex-related variations were observed in the concentrations of certain contaminants. High levels of mercury and low levels of zinc were detected, raising concerns about the reproductive health of seals. Similarly, the levels of DDTs detected were within the range known to cause adverse reproductive effects in marine mammals. Therefore, pollutant monitoring is crucial for the conservation of the Caspian seal.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Octavio P. Luzardo, Jose Enrique Zaldivar-Laguia, Manuel Zumbado, Maria del Mar Travieso-Aja
Summary: Homeless cats are a significant problem in Europe, particularly in urban areas. Animal welfare organizations provide care for these cats, but some stakeholders advocate for capturing or killing them, which is often illegal and ineffective. Spanish veterinarians urge for sustainable methods, such as trap-neuter-return programs and social awareness, to decrease the population of free-roaming cats. A comprehensive study is needed to assess their impact, while effective control programs should focus on non-lethal methods like TNR and adoption.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Cristian Rial-Berriel, Alvaro Ramos-Luzardo, Andrea Acosta-Dacal, Ana Macias-Montes, Pilar Fernandez-Valeron, Luis Alberto Henriquez-Hernandez, Manuel Zumbado, Luis D. D. Boada, Octavio P. P. Luzardo
Summary: This study applied and validated a method for detecting several hundred toxins in serum samples. It could detect and quantify up to 353 compounds, including persistent organic pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and rodenticides, using just 250 μL of serum. The method has great potential for biomonitoring.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Veronica Martin-Leon, Carmen Rubio, Angel Rodriguez-Hernandez, Manuel Zumbado, Andrea Acosta-Dacal, Luis Alberto Henriquez-Hernandez, Luis D. Boada, Maria del Mar Travieso-Aja, Octavio P. Luzardo
Summary: This study examined the contribution of leafy green vegetables to the daily intake of 47 elements in different scenarios and age groups in the Canary Islands. Spinach, arugula, watercress, and chard were found to have the highest levels of elements. Essential elements such as iron and zinc were most prevalent in spinach and watercress, while toxic elements like cadmium and arsenic were also present.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Luis Alberto Henriquez-Hernandez, Andrea Carolina Acosta-Dacal, Luis D. D. Boada, Manuel Zumbado, Lluis Serra-Majem, Octavio P. P. Luzardo
Summary: This study determined the contents of 38 elements in ready-to-eat baby food sold in Spain and estimated the dietary intakes and risk assessments of these elements in infants between 6 and 12 months old. Results showed that fish purees had the highest concentrations of mercury and arsenic. The levels of manganese, molybdenum, and chromium exceeded the adequate intake, particularly in store brands. The presence of these contaminants in food intended for infants, a sensitive population, highlights the importance of monitoring their levels.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Toshimi Nakajima, Mao Kuragano, Makoto Yamada, Ryo Sugimoto
Summary: This study compared the contribution of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) to river nutrient budgets at nearshore and embayment scales, and found that SGD-derived nutrients become more important at larger spatial scales.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fan Liu, Lei Zhang, Chongyang Zhang, Ziguang Chen, Jingguang Li
Summary: NO2 emissions from wall-mounted gas stoves used for household heating have become a significant source of indoor pollution in Chinese urban areas. The high indoor concentration of NO2 poses potential health risks to residents. It is urgently necessary to establish relevant regulations and implement emission reduction technologies to reduce NO2 emissions from wall-mounted gas stoves.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Letter
Environmental Sciences
Hans Peter H. Arp, Raoul Wolf, Sarah E. Hale, Sivani Baskaran, Juliane Gluege, Martin Scheringer, Xenia Trier, Ian T. Cousins, Harrie Timmer, Roberta Hofman-Caris, Anna Lennquist, Andre D. Bannink, Gerard J. Stroomberg, Rosa M. A. Sjerps, Rosa Montes, Rosario Rodil, Jose Benito Quintana, Daniel Zahn, Herve Gallard, Tobias Mohr, Ivo Schliebner, Michael Neumann
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Philomina Onyedikachi Peter, Binessi Edouard Ifon, Francois Nkinahamira, Kayode Hassan Lasisi, Jiangwei Li, Anyi Hu, Chang-Ping Yu
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between dissolved organic matter (DOM) and Rare Earth Elements (REEs) in sediments from Yundang Lagoon, China. The results show four distinct fluorescent components, with protein-like substances being the most prevalent. Additionally, the total fluorescence intensity and LREE concentrations exhibit a synchronized increase from Outer to Inner to Songbai Lake core sediments. The findings demonstrate a strong correlation between DOM content and pollution levels.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Surya Gupta, Pasquale Borrelli, Panos Panagos, Christine Alewell
Summary: The objective of this study is to incorporate soil hydraulic properties into the erodibility factor (K) of USLE-type models. By modifying and improving the existing equations for soil texture and permeability, the study successfully included information on saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) into the calculation of K factor. Using the Random Forest machine learning algorithm, two independent K factor maps with different spatial resolutions were generated. The results show that the decrease in K factor values has a positive impact on the modeling of soil erosion rates.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jesmin Akter, Wendy J. M. Smith, Yawen Liu, Ilho Kim, Stuart L. Simpson, Phong Thai, Asja Korajkic, Warish Ahmed
Summary: The choice of workflow in wastewater surveillance has a significant impact on SARS-CoV-2 concentrations, while having minimal effects on HF183 and no effect on HAdV 40/41 concentrations. Certain components in the workflow can be interchangeable, but factors such as buffer type, chloroform, and homogenization speed can affect the recovery of viruses and bacteria.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yu Luo, Xueting Yang, Diwei Wang, Hongmei Xu, Hongai Zhang, Shasha Huang, Qiyuan Wang, Ningning Zhang, Junji Cao, Zhenxing Shen
Summary: Atmospheric PM2.5, which can generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), is associated with cardiorespiratory morbidity and mortality. The study found that both the mass concentration of PM2.5 and the DTT activity were higher during the heating season than during the nonheating season. Combustion sources were the primary contributors to DTT activity during the heating season, while secondary formation dominated during the nonheating season. The study also revealed that biomass burning had the highest inherent oxidation potential among all sources investigated.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Erin L. Murphy, Leah R. Gerber, Chelsea M. Rochman, Beth Polidoro
Summary: Plastic pollution has devastating consequences for marine organisms. This study uses a trait-based framework to develop a vulnerability index for marine mammals, seabirds, and sea turtles in Hawai'i. The index ranks 63 study species based on their vulnerability to macroplastic pollution, providing valuable information for species monitoring and management priorities.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kenji Maurice, Amelia Bourceret, Sami Youssef, Stephane Boivin, Liam Laurent-Webb, Coraline Damasio, Hassan Boukcim, Marc-Andre Selosse, Marc Ducousso
Summary: Growing pressure from climate change and agricultural land use is destabilizing soil microbial community interactions. Little is known about microbial community resistance and adaptation to disturbances, hindering our understanding of recovery latency and implications for ecosystem functioning. This study found that anthropic disturbance and natural disturbance have different effects on the topology and stability of soil microbial networks.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yunhao Li, Yali Feng, Haoran Li, Yisong Yao, Chenglong Xu, Jinrong Ju, Ruiyu Ma, Haoyu Wang, Shiwei Jiang
Summary: Deep-sea mining poses a serious threat to marine ecosystems and human health by disturbing sediment and transmitting metal ions through the food chain. This study developed a new regenerative adsorption material, OMN@SA, which effectively removes metal ions. The adsorption mechanism and performance of the material for metal ion fixation were investigated.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Antonio Medici, Margherita Lavorgna, Marina Isidori, Chiara Russo, Elena Orlo, Giovanni Luongo, Giovanni Di Fabio, Armando Zarrelli
Summary: Valsartan, a widely used antihypertensive drug, has been detected in high concentrations in surface waters due to its unchanged excretion and incomplete degradation in wastewater treatment plants. This study investigated the degradation of valsartan and identified 14 degradation byproducts. The acute and chronic toxicity of these byproducts were evaluated in key organisms in the freshwater trophic chain.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jiang Lin, Lianbao Chi, Qing Yuan, Busu Li, Mingbao Feng
Summary: This study investigated the photodegradation behavior and product formation of two representative pharmaceuticals in simulated estuary water. The study found that the formed transformation products of these pharmaceuticals have potential toxicity on marine organisms, including oxidative stress and damage to cellular components.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hua Fang, Dongdong Jiang, Ye He, Siyi Wu, Yuehong Li, Ziqi Zhang, Haoting Chen, Zixin Zheng, Yan Sun, Wenxiang Wang
Summary: This study revealed that exposure to lower levels of air pollutants led to decreased pregnancy rates, with PM10, NO2, SO2, and CO emerging as the four most prominent pollutants. Individuals aged 35 and above exhibited heightened susceptibility to pollutants.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ali Shaan Manzoor Ghumman, Rashid Shamsuddin, Amin Abbasi, Mohaira Ahmad, Yoshiaki Yoshida, Abdul Sami, Hamad Almohamadi
Summary: In this study, inverse vulcanized polysulfides (IVP) were synthesized by reacting molten sulfur with 4-vinyl benzyl chloride, and then functionalized using N-methyl D-glucamine (NMDG). The functionalized IVP showed a high mercury adsorption capacity and a machine learning model was developed to predict the amount of mercury removed. Furthermore, the functionalized IVP can be regenerated and reused, providing a sustainable and cost-effective adsorbent.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rita Bonfiglio, Renata Sisto, Stefano Casciardi, Valeria Palumbo, Maria Paola Scioli, Erica Giacobbi, Francesca Servadei, Gerry Melino, Alessandro Mauriello, Manuel Scimeca
Summary: This study investigated the presence of aluminum in human colon cancer samples and its potential association with biological processes involved in cancer progression. Aluminum was found in tumor areas of 24% of patients and was associated with epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cell death. Additional analyses revealed higher tumor mutational burden and mutations in genes related to EMT and apoptosis in aluminum-positive colon cancers. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of aluminum toxicity may improve strategies for the management of colon cancer patients.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)