Article
Environmental Sciences
Ruixue Guo, Yumeng Qi, Beibei Li, Nannan Wu, Jie Tian, Zunyao Wang, Ruijuan Qu
Summary: This study systematically investigates the degradation kinetics and mechanisms of two common PBDEs congeners on biomass under sunlight irradiation conditions. It reveals the highest photodegradation rate on specific types of biomass and highlights the involvement of hydroxyl H in lignin from biomass in the formation of primary products.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chi-fong Ko, Yi-Chen Yang, Jennifer Ia Wen Wen Liu, Yang-hsin Shih
Summary: This study focused on the thermal treatment of PBDE-contaminated soil, with the optimal conditions determined to be heating at 450 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes with a heating rate of 10 degrees Celsius per minute. Through this method, BDE-209 was successfully removed from the soil to below detection limits, indicating the feasibility of remediating PBDE-contaminated soil through thermal treatment.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Limei Chen, Qitao Yin, Lu Xu, Minyu Hua, Zhen Zhang, Yuqian Xu, Wei Xia, Huizhong Qian, Jun Hong, Jun Jin
Summary: This study aims to analyze the concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in a population of blood donors over a 4-year period and evaluate their temporal trends. The median concentrations of PBDEs showed a downward trend from 2013 to 2014 and then increased after 2014. There were no correlations between age and PBDE congener concentrations, while concentrations were generally lower in females than in males.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bingwei Yang, Yuting Wang, Changyu Fang, Erqun Song, Yang Song
Summary: Exposure to PBDEs metabolite PBDEQ induces ROS and mitochondrial dysfunction, promoting NLRP3 inflammasome activation through the TLRs-NF-kappa B signaling pathway. Additionally, bromine metabolism and K+ efflux are involved in the activation of this inflammatory response.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jennifer Ia Wen Wen Liu, Yu-Jie Lin, Chi-Fong Ko, Jiann-yuan Ding, Yang-hsin Shih
Summary: A farm in Taoyuan, Taiwan has been contaminated with decabrominated diphenyl ether (BDE-209) for over 10 years, posing a hazardous risk to humans. The study investigates thermal treatment as a method to remove BDE-209 from soil. While heating to 450 degrees C for 30 minutes effectively removes BDE-209, it also reduces soil organic matter, damages microbial biomass, and affects revegetation. By using sugarcane bagasse as an amendment, soil fertility can be restored and bacterial composition improved, making it a promising method for sustainable remediation.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Shaoyu Tang, Hua Yin, Xiaolong Yu, Shuona Chen, Guining Lu, Zhi Dang
Summary: Pseudomonas aeruginosa YH showed efficient degradation of BDE-47 and its intermediates, with transcriptome sequencing revealing significant gene regulation in response to BDE-47 exposure. Inhibition of multidrug efflux pump enhanced bacterial tolerance and degradation of BDE-47, while also accelerating its adsorption.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xiaomei Huang, Muwei Huang, Yanqiu Zuo, Zhongsheng Yi, Hongyan Liu
Summary: Hydroxy polybrominated diphenyl ethers (OHPBDEs) interact with thyroid proteins mainly through computational simulation and molecular dynamics, leading to changes in the protein's structure and stability. The observed stronger binding ability of OHPBDEs with thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) than with transthyretin (TTR) demonstrates the potential impact on endocrine function.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chenggang Gu, Zhihua Jin, Xiuli Fan, Qingqing Ti, Xinglun Yang, Cheng Sun, Xin Jiang
Summary: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), widely distributed and harmful to human health and wildlife, require sustainable rehabilitation strategies. Although efficient bacteria have been isolated, understanding the external influences and mechanisms on biodegradation is lacking.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Georgia Beel, Ben Langford, Nicola Carslaw, David Shaw, Nicholas Cowan
Summary: This study is the first to systematically determine temperature-dependent emissions of volatile organic compounds from commonly used plastic consumer products found in the home, and explore their impact on indoor air quality. The results show that PS plastic has the highest emission rate, and almost all VOC emissions have a linear relationship with temperature. The presence of plastic products indoors has the potential to impact indoor air quality.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Florence Portet-Koltalo, Nicolas Guibert, C. Morin, Florence De Mengin-Fondragon, Adele Frouard
Summary: The study utilized a unique method to assess the PBDE content in professional seating furnishing wastes and found that the total PBDE content did not exceed the tolerated threshold. Higher amounts of BDE-209 were identified in hard plastics, but in quantities less than 312 mg kg-1.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ahmed Nasri, Mohamed Allouche, Amel Hannachi, Badreddine Barhoumi, Aymen Wahbi, Abdel Halim Harrath, Ezzeddine Mahmoudi, Hamouda Beyrem, Fehmi Boufahja
Summary: The study investigated the taxonomic and trophic responses of meiobenthic organisms, especially marine nematodes, to polybrominated diphenyl ether (BDE-47) in Bizerte lagoon. Results showed significant effects on species abundance and trophic diversity in response to different concentrations of BDE-47. The community of nematodes was separated into different groups based on treatment conditions, with the high concentration leading to dominance of resistant trophic groups.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Ming-Jun Hu, Jin-Liang Zhu, Qian Zhang, Jia-Liu He, Wan-Jun Yang, Zhen-Yu Zhu, Jia-Hu Hao, Fen Huang
Summary: Exposure to PBDEs and metals among rural adult residents along the Yangtze River in China may influence thyroid function, with some PBDE congeners and metals showing associations with thyroid hormones. However, there was no statistically significant association observed between PBDEs, metals, and thyroid-stimulating hormone. Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression analysis suggested similar trends in the relationship between PBDEs, metals mixtures, and thyroid hormones. Additional studies are needed to confirm these findings and identify potential mechanisms.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYGIENE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Sonam Paliya, Ashootosh Mandpe, M. Suresh Kumar, Sunil Kumar
Summary: In this study, a novel bacterium capable of aerobically degrading BDE-209 was isolated from a municipal waste dumping site and identified as Bacillus tequilensis strain BDE-S1. The degradation of BDE-209 by BDE-S1 was found to be significantly correlated with bromide concentration, COD, TOC, and cell biomass, and the study suggested possible degradation pathways based on metabolite analysis. This research demonstrates the potential for using indigenously isolated Bacillus tequilensis strain BDE-S1 in the bioremediation of PBDEs from contaminated environments.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xingjuan Chen, Hui Yao, Da Song, Guoping Sun, Meiying Xu
Summary: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are persistent organic pollutants that pose a risk to human health and the environment. Until now, there has been no specific receptor protein for the development of a PBDE-detecting biosensor. This study identified a novel sensory element for specific recognition of PBDEs and developed a whole-cell biosensor for their detection.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Karla Jagic, Marija Dvorscak, Andreja Juric, Toni Safner, Darija Klincic
Summary: Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners were analyzed in house dust samples collected in Croatian households. The most dominant congener BDE-99 accounted for approximately 60%. Daily intake estimation showed potential risks for toddlers, with the highest BDE-99 sample approaching the reference dose level.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jasmine T. Yu, Miriam L. Diamond, Paul A. Helm
Summary: This paper proposes a hierarchical categorization approach for microplastics, which aims to improve consistency and comparability in classification. A literature review reveals significant variations and inconsistencies in the categorization and grouping schemes for microplastic particles, highlighting the need for a fit-for-purpose classification scheme to meet the information needs of scientists and decision-makers in different research and regulatory objectives.
INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tracey J. Woodruff, Swati D. G. Rayasam, Daniel A. Axelrad, Patricia D. Koman, Nicholas Chartres, Deborah H. Bennett, Linda S. Birnbaum, Phil Brown, Courtney C. Carignan, Courtney Cooper, Carl F. Cranor, Miriam L. Diamond, Shari Franjevic, Eve C. Gartner, Dale Hattis, Russ Hauser, Wendy Heiger-Bernays, Rashmi Joglekar, Juleen Lam, Jonathan I. Levy, Patrick M. MacRoy, Maricel V. Maffini, Emily C. Marquez, Rachel Morello-Frosch, Keeve E. Nachman, Greylin H. Nielsen, Catherine Oksas, Dimitri Panagopoulos Abrahamsson, Heather B. Patisaul, Sharyle Patton, Joshua F. Robinson, Kathryn M. Rodgers, Mark S. Rossi, Ruthann A. Rudel, Jennifer B. Sass, Sheela Sathyanarayana, Ted Schettler, Rachel M. Shaffer, Bhavna Shamasunder, Peggy M. Shepard, Kristin Shrader-Frechette, Gina M. Solomon, Wilma A. Subra, Laura N. Vandenberg, Julia R. Varshavsky, Roberta F. White, Ken Zarker, Lauren Zeise
Summary: The manufacture and production of industrial chemicals continues to increase, leading to widespread population exposures and resultant health impacts. Low-wealth communities and communities of color often bear disproportionate burdens of exposure and impact. Multiple authoritative bodies and scientific consensus groups have called for actions to prevent harmful exposures via improved policy approaches. We developed consensus recommendations for health-protective, scientific approaches to reduce harmful chemical exposures, which can be applied to current US policies governing industrial chemicals and environmental pollutants.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Laura N. Vandenberg, Swati D. G. Rayasam, Daniel A. Axelrad, Deborah H. Bennett, Phil Brown, Courtney C. Carignan, Nicholas Chartres, Miriam L. Diamond, Rashmi Joglekar, Bhavna Shamasunder, Kristin Shrader-Frechette, Wilma A. Subra, Ken Zarker, Tracey J. Woodruff
Summary: Understanding and quantifying human exposures to environmental chemicals is crucial for public health protection. Inadequate exposure assessments conducted by polluting industries or regulatory agencies have led to the disregard of exposure concerns raised by communities and the underestimation of risks, allowing pollutants to go unregulated. Researchers, risk assessors, and policy makers need to address the issues affecting exposure assessments and utilize exposure data to make informed decisions for health protection.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Stuart Harrad, Daniel Drage, Martin Sharkey, Will Stubbings, Misbah Alghamdi, Harald Berresheim, Marie Coggins, Andre Henrique Rosa
Summary: Legacy and alternative halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) were found in waste childcare articles in the Republic of Ireland between 2019 and 2020. Some samples exceeded the European Union limit value, raising concerns about child exposure to HFRs.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Editorial Material
Engineering, Environmental
Marlene Agerstrand, Kenneth Arinaitwe, Thomas Backhaus, Ricardo O. Barra, Miriam L. Diamond, Joan O. Grimalt, Ksenia Groh, Faith Kandie, Perihan Binnur Kurt-Karakus, Robert J. Letcher, Rainer Lohmann, Rodrigo O. Meire, Temilola Oluseyi, Andreas Schaeffer, Mochamad Septiono, Gabriel Sigmund, Anna Soehl, Temitope O. Sogbanmu, Noriyuki Suzuki, Marta Venier, Penny Vlahos, Martin Scheringer
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Simona A. Balan, David Q. Andrews, Arlene Blum, Miriam L. Diamond, Seth Rojello Fernandez, Elizabeth Harriman, Andrew B. Lindstrom, Anna Reade, Lauren Richter, Rebecca Sutton, Zhanyun Wang, Carol F. Kwiatkowski
Summary: Chemicals have been used to improve industrial and consumer products, but their negative impact on human and ecological health calls for an urgent need to address this issue. The essential-use approach suggests that chemicals should only be used if necessary for health, safety, or society and if there are no viable alternatives. To implement this approach effectively, it is important to identify chemicals of concern, expedite decision-making, apply it early in the development process, and involve experts in making essentiality determinations and sharing information. By optimizing and expanding this approach, it can lead to better chemicals management and encourage the use of safer alternatives for human and ecological health.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Engineering, Environmental
James R. Mihelcic, Ricardo O. Barra, Bryan W. Brooks, Miriam L. Diamond, Matthew J. Eckelman, Jacqueline MacDonald Gibson, Sunny Guidotti, Atsuko Ikeda-Araki, Manish Kumar, Ynoussa Maiga, Jennifer McConville, Shelly L. Miller, Valeria Pizarro, Fernando Rosario-Ortiz, Shuxiao Wang, Julie B. Zimmerman
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Gabriel Sigmund, Marlene Agerstrand, Alexandre Antonelli, Thomas Backhaus, Tomas Brodin, Miriam L. Diamond, Walter R. Erdelen, David C. Evers, Thilo Hofmann, Thorsten Hueffer, Adelene Lai, Joao P. M. Torres, Leonie Mueller, Allison L. Perrigo, Matthias C. Rillig, Andreas Schaeffer, Martin Scheringer, Kristin Schirmer, Ahmed Tlili, Anna Soehl, Rita Triebskorn, Penny Vlahos, Colette vom Berg, Zhanyun Wang, Ksenia J. Groh
Summary: Climate change, biodiversity loss, and chemical pollution are urgent global emergencies that require immediate actions to mitigate. While climate change and biodiversity are often studied together, chemical pollution's contribution to biodiversity loss has been largely overlooked. Failure to address pollution effects may undermine biodiversity protection efforts, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary collaborations in understanding and countering the negative impact of chemical pollution on ecosystems.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Muideen Remilekun Gbadamosi, Layla Salih Al-Omran, Mohamed Abou-Elwafa Abdallah, Stuart Harrad
Summary: This study measured the concentrations of eight organophosphate esters (OPEs) in UK drinking water and found that tap water had significantly higher levels of OPEs compared to bottled water, particularly chlorinated, aryl-, and alkyl-OPEs. However, exposure to OPEs via drinking water was much lower than exposure through other pathways, such as food, indoor dust, inhalation, and dermal uptake. Nevertheless, when considering overall exposure, some OPEs in UK drinking water approached health-based limit values for toddlers.
EMERGING CONTAMINANTS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Muideen Remilekun Gbadamosi, Adeyemi Lawrence Ogunneye, Layla Salih Al-Omran, Mohamed Abou-Elwafa Abdallah, Stuart Harrad
Summary: This study documents the presence of organophosphate esters (OPEs) in indoor dust from various microenvironments in Nigeria for the first time. The concentrations of OPEs were found to be relatively low and did not significantly differ between different indoor environments. The estimated daily intakes of the studied OPEs were lower than the reference dose values, suggesting that exposure to these OPEs in the indoor environment does not pose a significant health risk for the general population in Nigeria.
EMERGING CONTAMINANTS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ovokeroye A. Abafe, Stuart Harrad, Mohamed Abou-Elwafa Abdallah
Summary: In this study, an invitro physiologically based extraction test was used to investigate the dermalbioaccessibility of PBDEs and HBCDDs in different types of microplastics. The dermal bioaccessibility of PBDEs was significantly higher in polyethylene MPs compared to polypropylene MPs. The size of MP particles and the presence of cosmetic formulations influenced the bioaccessibility of PBDEs and HBCDDs. Human exposure to these chemicals via dermal contact with MPs was found to be substantial and the dermal pathway was identified as a major route of exposure.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Steven Kutarna, Xuan Du, Miriam L. Diamond, Arlene Blum, Hui Peng
Summary: Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) were classified as substances to be eliminated under the Stockholm Convention due to their persistence and toxicity. Despite their ban in Canada since 2013, SCCPs can still be found at high concentrations in indoor dust. A study found SCCPs in a wide range of products purchased in Canada after 2013, including electronic devices, clothing, plastics (toys), and paintings, indicating ongoing exposure to SCCPs indoors.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-PROCESSES & IMPACTS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hansel David Burgos Melo, Juliana de Souza-Araujo, Laura Geraldine Benavides Garzon, Joao Carlos Marcedo, Rafael Cardoso, Sandro Donnini Mancini, Stuart Harrad, Andre Henrique Rosa
Summary: Brominated flame retardants (BFRs), widely used in polymeric products like electronic equipment, have been banned in many countries due to their adverse health impacts and environmental persistence. However, research on the presence of these contaminants, particularly in waste electronic equipment, is limited in Brazil. This study detected polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in waste EEE samples in the metropolitan region of Sorocaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Oddny Ragnarsdottir, Mohamed Abou-Elwafa Abdallah, Stuart Harrad
Summary: This study assessed the bioaccessibility of PFAS from indoor dust to synthetic human sweat sebum mixtures (SSSM) using in vitro tests. The composition of the SSSM significantly affected the bioaccessibility of all target compounds. Common cosmetics were found to impact the dermal bioaccessibility of PFAS. The findings highlight the potential substantial contribution of dermal exposure to human body burdens of PFAS and the need for further consideration of this pathway in risk assessment studies.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Qifan Liu, Runzeng Liu, Xianming Zhang, Wenlong Li, Tom Harner, Amandeep Saini, Hanyang Liu, Fange Yue, Lixi Zeng, Ying Zhu, Changyue Xing, Li Li, Patrick Lee, Shengrui Tong, Weigang Wang, Maofa Ge, Jianjun Wang, Xiaoguo Wu, Cassandra Johannessen, John Liggio, Shao-Meng Li, Hayley Hung, Zhouging Xie, Scott A. Mabury, Jonathan P. D. Abbatt
Summary: This article introduces the widespread use of Organophosphate esters (OPEs) and their potential hazards to ecosystems and human health, stating that existing regulations may be insufficient to control OPE pollution, and emphasizing the need for more comprehensive policies to address this issue.