AbstractGlyphosate, widely used herbicide, is considered harmful to the environment and human health. Its effects on growth rate and genotoxicity of Ipomoea aquatica were assessed in this work. The plants were grown in the soil which supplemented with glyphosate at 1- to 3-fold the recommended dose. After 30 days, lengths and dry weights of the roots and shoots were found to decrease in a concentration-dependent manner. The same was found for genotoxicity assessed via random amplified polymorphic DNA with genomic template stability tests, confirming the effects of glyphosate on the growth rate inhibition and DNA damage. The usefulness of the random amplified polymorphic DNA assay as ecotoxicological tool for assessing genotoxic effects in plants is demonstrated.

AbstractRotenone is a broadly used organic pesticide with neurotoxicity as a serious side effect for non-target organisms. The inhibition of mitochondrial complex I is the principal mechanism of rotenone toxicity that leads to oxidative stress, apoptosis, and decreased autophagy. Several chemical compounds have been demonstrated to exhibit antioxidant, antiapoptotic, and autophagy enhancement in both in vitro and in vivo studies. Some chemical agents can ameliorate rotenone-induced neurotoxicity through their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties. They also inhibit the accumulation of α-synuclein, control dopamine release, affect ion channels, and induce autophagy. Clinical trials are essential to reinforce the effectiveness of any chemical in managing patients with rotenone neurotoxicity.

AbstractHuman lymphocytes as well as zebrafish embryos were used to study the toxicity of acrylamide, and the intervention effects of the dietary antioxidants (-)-epigallocatechin gallate and curcumin have been examined. The alkaline comet assay revealed that acrylamide (1, 5, 10 mmol/L) had dose-response effects on basic DNA damage and oxidative DNA damage in human lymphocytes. Exposure of zebrafish embryos to acrylamide resulted in decrease of hatching rate, and in increases of mortality and teratogenicity. (-)-Epigallocatechin gallate and curcumin reduced DNA damage and protected zebrafish embryos in the growth and development.

ABSTRACTCalcium aluminate nanoflakes possessing a single crystalline orthorhombic Ca5Al6O14 phase and a thickness of about 50 nm were synthesized via a simple route. The elements O, Al, and Ca were confirmed in the nanoflakes by element mapping and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Formation and growth of the nanoflakes can be explained by a nucleation and crystalline growth process. The nanoflakes exhibit a band gap of 3.87 eV which entails good photocatalytic activity towards gentian violet which, in aqueous solution at a concentration of 10 mg L−1, can be entirely degraded within 100 min upon irradiation of a 175 W mercury lamp using 1 g L−1 calcium aluminate nanoflakes as catalyst. The reaction rate constant is 0.032 min−1 which is six times higher than that using calcium aluminate nanostructures obtained from different conditions. The nanoflakes are recoverable and possess good stability for the gentian violet degradation.

The aim of this study was to determine the cytogenotoxic effects of methylparaben, ethylparaben and butylparaben using battery of tests in plant cells (Allium cepa assay) and human lymphocytes (chr...

AbstractThe environmental effects of 4,4’-methylenediphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) are linked with its potential hydrolytic conversion to 4,4’-methylenedianiline (MDA). Likewise, the reactions of MDI with biological macromolecules govern the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion processes associated with sensitization and toxicological effects, and the hydrolytic formation of MDA in the body would be a source of additional concern. To obtain better insight into the influence of the reactive behavior of MDI on its potential health and environmental hazards, its hydrolysis in water was studied at very high dilution (120 nmol/L) under homogeneous conditions that minimized potential interference by solvents, buffers, and strong N- or S-centered nucleophiles. The reaction proceeds in two distinct steps, converting one isocyanate group at a time. Pseudo-first-order rate constants for the conversion of MDI were determined at 293 K and pH values between 4 and 9, and at temperatures between 283 and 303 K at pH 7. The half-life of MDI in water under neutral conditions and at 298 K was found to be 11 s. This newly-generated kinetic and mechanistic information provides a basis for refining the conceptual and quantitative models used to predict the environmental and toxicological effects of MDI and MDI-related substances.

Abstractα-Mangostin is a primary active compound found in mangosteen pericarp that has been used as a traditional medicine in Thailand and other countries in Southeast Asia. Since toxicological information is limited, developmental toxicity and transcriptional effects of α-mangostin during embryogenesis of zebrafish were studied. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to α-mangostin (up to 15 µmol/L) from 4 hours up to 72 the 50% lethal concentration was estimated as 6.9 ± 1.9 µmol/L. The compound induced developmental defects in zebrafish embryos/larvae, mainly consisting of truncated bodies, bent tails, blood clots, and pericardial and yolk edemas. α-Mangostin increased malformation in body shape and tail morphology. Additionally, the compound altered the transcriptional expression levels of genes correlated with oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and hematopoiesis. Further research will be necessary to evaluate if α-mangostin may cause developmental toxicity in other animals.

AbstractA rapid, simple and accurate extraction QuEChERS method was used for simultaneous determination of 22 hormones with a wide range of polarities in 35 infant formulae by use of LC–ESI-MS/MS. In the present method, some changes were made compared to other methods, which include eliminating the enzymatic hydrolysis step, derivatization and performing analysis a wide range of analytes with different polarities in single run. Three validation runs based on three levels of pre-extraction spiked quality control samples were conducted. Limits of detection obtained by use of the QuEChERS methods were less than those of other extraction methods with the same matrix and recoveries were more satisfactory. Under optimal experimental conditions, good linearity was observed in the range of 1–50 µg L−1. Limits of detection and quantification were in the range of 0.33–1.66 µg L−1 and 1–5 µg L−1, respectively and recoveries of analytes ranged from 73 to 118%. The amount of hormone residues in the samples was not significant. The present method is proposed for routine analysis of hormones potentially present in infant formula and other milk-derived products.

AbstractThe article presents a hypothesis on a co-delivery strategy to suppress or reduce infection caused by the COVID-19 virus. Co-delivery was illustrated in many diseases, and results showed that it produced a high therapeutic efficacy against disorders. We proposed an approach to suppress or reduce infection caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 via designing an intelligent nano-liposome loaded with interferon γ, interleukin 4 and small interfering RNA against vimentin. At the surface of this nanostructure, there is a matrix metallopeptidase3 substrate to provide a platform for the enzymatic function of matrix metallopeptidase3 to destroy the extracellular matrix, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 blocker, and antibody against vimentin for targeting, trans-activator of transcription peptide, and polyethylene glycol. Due to the increasing application of nano-liposomes commercially as a drug-delivery system, it is important to consider this effective approach for the coronavirus disease 2019 treatment.

AbstractThe present study has been carried out in Clarias batrachus to evaluate the genotoxic effect of herbicide pretilachlor using micronucleus test and comet assay. Fish were exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of pretilachlor (0.29 − 0.58 mg/L) – for 30 to 60 d. Micronucleus test and comet assay of erythrocytes revealed that genetic damage increases with increasing concentration of the herbicide at all durations of exposure. Maximum genetic damage was observed at day 30 after which it decreases and becomes minimum at day 60.

Ag2O@g-C3N4 catalysts with p-n heterostructure were prepared by the hydrothermal method. The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectric spectroscopy, and UV/visible light spectroscopy. Ag2O nanoparticles were uniformly distributed on the surface of g-C3N4 and a heterostructure was formed. The sample Ag2O@g-C3N4 degraded methylene blue dye by visible light, which showed that it had good photocatalytic activity. Under the same catalytic conditions, the catalytic efficiency of Ag2O@g-C3N4 is two times higher than that of pure g-C3N4. The improvement in catalytic efficiency is due to the formation of heterostructure between Ag2O and g-C3N4, which greatly reduces the recombination rate of electrons and holes. At the same time, Ag is a good electron trapping agent, which increases the mobility of electrons and holes and inhibits the photoetching of Ag2O. Finally, the photocatalytic principle of Ag2O@ g-C3N4 was analyzed for its excellent photocatalytic performance.

AbstractHollow TiO2/g-C3N4 nanocomposite was prepared using solvothermal method. Two-dimensional g-C3N4 nanosheets were coupled with TiO2 hollow spheres at different ratios to investigate the charge-carrier interactions with the aim of enhancing the photocatalytic properties of the nanocomposite. This coupling was systematically examined by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, photoluminescence, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and UV diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The prepared nanocomposite was used for the photodegradation of the volatile organic carbons methyl tetra-butyl ether and toluene present in aqueous solution. Elemental analysis and X-ray diffraction revealed a high-purity sample, while the UV diffuse reflectance spectroscopy demonstrated the presence of a well-defined anatase crystal phase for the TiO2 hollow sphere; and the photoluminescence measurements showed an enhancement in visible-light absorbance, with a good reduction in the electron-hole recombination rate. The performance of the nanocomposites in the photocatalytic degradation of toluene under irradiation with visible-light was evaluated. The 20/80% TiO2/g-C3N4 nanocomposite materials showed highest photocatalytic activity for toluene and methyl tetra-butyl ether, achieving a degradation of more than 90%; this is attributed to the interaction between the two surfaces in the TiO2/g-C3N4 nanocomposite, resulting in a higher performance than the individual components.

AbstractGrowth and As uptake of mung bean (Vigna radiata) in roots, shoots, and grains of different genotypes grown in soil with high As level (30 mg kg−1) amended with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, selenium, and biochar was investigated. Arsenic content in grains was reduced on average by 45% with any of the soil amendments. More specifically, the As concentrations in grains were reduced by 57% with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and by 60% with Se amendments. Also, great differences in As-uptake between varieties have been observed.

ABSTRACTThe human health risks of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and nickel (Ni) in fifty regular and slim cigarette brands available in the Serbian market were evaluated. Distributions on per-cigarette basis concentrations of these metals, as determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry, were used as inputs in the probabilistic risk assessment. The contents of these metals in cigarettes varied significantly. Larger quantities of the studied metals were observed in regular cigarettes than in slim cigarettes, but the concentration levels per cigarette tobacco mass were higher in slim cigarettes. The metal concentrations in counterfeit cigarettes were marginally higher than those in authentic brands. Based on the mean concentrations, Pb was the most abundant toxic metal, followed by Ni and Cd. The calculated values of the cumulative hazard index (HI) and incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) indicated a low non-carcinogenic risk and low but not negligible carcinogenic risk from Cd, Pb, and Ni. The mean HI and ILCR values obtained using probabilistic and deterministic approaches were similar. A Monte Carlo simulation was employed to minimize the uncertainty of health risk estimation. The sensitivity analysis revealed that the most influential factor was cigarette mass followed by Cd content.

AbstractAcrylamide is converted to glycidamide as a reactive metabolite by the monooxygenase isozyme CYP2E1. Since the latter is known to be induced in diabetic patients, increased acrylamide toxicity in such patients is suspected.Differences in acrylamide toxicokinetics in non-diabetic and diabetic rats receiving acrylamide (50 mg/kg) orally or via i.p. injection were investigated in this report. Blood was collected at various time points, acrylamide and glycidamide in plasma were determined by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, and the data were analyzed for toxicokinetic parameters using the proper software.Mean maximum plasma concentration, the apparent clearance, and area under the curve in non-diabetic rats were significantly higher than in diabetics, an important fact to be considered in xenobiotic exposure of diabetic individuals.

AbstractThe potential of biomimetic chromatography to predict ecotoxicological endpoints of pharmaceutical compounds was investigated. For this purpose, a data set of previously and newly measured chromatographic retention data for 36 structurally diverse drugs was used. Standardized retention times were measured on the immobilized artificial membrane, human serum albumin, and alpha-1-acid glycoprotein stationary phases. As ecotoxicological endpoints, half-maximal lethal concentration values of fish and half-maximal effective concentration (immobilization) values of a water flea (Daphnia magna spp.) determined with a two-day static method were considered. Ecotoxicity values correlated with octanol-water partitioning and the positive charge of compounds contributed even more to the toxicity. Models based on membrane partition exhibited the best statistics and predictive performance, attributed to lipophilicity and membrane electrostatic interactions. Alpha-1-acid glycoprotein binding led to satisfactory models, owing to its function as a binder of neutral and basic lipophilic compounds. Albumin binding, however, did not result in sound models, as it is governed by lipophilicity and the negative charge of compounds, contrary to the mechanism of toxicity. Both membrane and alpha-1-acid glycoprotein models were superior statistically from those derived from the octanol-water system. Overall, membrane and alpha-1-acid glycoprotein retention can be suggested as promising indices to assess the ecotoxicological risk of drugs.

AbstractThe present study aimed at investigating the response of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) across different endpoints (morphological, physiological, and biochemical) to short-term single and combined copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd) exposure. Barley seedlings were exposed for 5 days to Cd and Cu (0.1–100 mg L−1) individually and in binary combinations. Binary mixture toxicity was evaluated using the concentration addition concept and toxic unit approach. Single metal treatment reduced barley height and biomass, altered the content of photosynthetic pigments, and induced lipid peroxidation. Plant growth (measured as plant height and biomass) and lipid peroxidation showed high sensitivity to combined Cu–Cd treatment and Cu–Cd mixture induced greater than additive effect on these endpoints. The uptake and accumulation of Cu and Cd were considerably influenced by the interaction among these metals. Cu reduced Cd accumulation in plants, while Cd had no influence on Cu accumulation in barley roots and shoots. Analysis of mixture effects across different endpoints revealed that mixture effects are endpoint dependent and different types of interactions were manifested. Overall, the present study shows that the same test design for single and mixture toxicity assessment for several endpoints cannot always be used to predict mixture effects and type of interaction.

AbstractHexahydroxy strontium stannate nanorods were synthesized via a facile hydrothermal route and characterized by X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and solid UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The nanorods with single crystalline hexagonal SrSn(OH)6 phase have lengths of several μm and diameters of 50–150 nm. The formation process was investigated by observing the evolution of the morphology and structure under different conditions. The band gap is 3.76 eV. The photocatalytic performance of the nanorods was evaluated under ultraviolet light irradiation with crystal violet in aqueous solution which can be entirely photo-degraded within 6 hours. Anti-interference experiments showed that hydroxyl radicals, holes, and superoxide radicals are involved in the sdegradation of crystal violet.

AbstractHexavalent chromium has been widely distributed in the environment by natural and anthropogenic sources characterized by higher toxicological and solubility properties than the trivalent form. Remediation-by-reduction of chromium (VI) to chromium (III) through the use of chemicals has offered an environmental and cost-effective approach for chromate detoxification. One of the major disadvantages of chemical reduction is that the addition of reductant constitutes a secondary source of contamination; for instance, sodium dithionite at low pH can decompose to sulfur dioxide which can irritate the skin and respiratory tract. In this review, the application of safer reductants of conventional and nanotechnological approaches is addressed. The use of antioxidant biomaterials for chromium (VI) remediation may offer benign alternatives to the use of chemical reductants.

AbstractNanoparticles are used for several commercial applications, especially medical applications, energy-based research, and environmental applications. The usage of nanoparticles is increasing worldwide due to their unique properties, so all livings are exposed to these materials deliberately or unknowingly. The toxic nanoparticles disrupt the ecological balance of environment. The accumulation, surface area, particle size or shape of nanoparticles, exposure route, exposure time and dissolution contribute to the toxicity. The production of copper (II) oxide nanoparticles has expanded speedily in the last years so; it is important to know the risks that may be caused by their toxicological risks in ecosystems. This review emphasizes the environmental fate of copper (II) oxide nanoparticles. The environmental fate relates to their shapes, sizes, and physicochemical properties. The updated information on the toxicity of copper (II) oxide nanoparticles to aquatic organisms is given. Copper (II) oxide nanoparticles penetrate directly or indirectly into the organs of aquatic organisms through skin absorption, and/or nutrition. After the exposure, protein denaturation, protein oxidation, DNA damage, oxidative stress, generation of reactive oxygen species, hemolysis, and even cell death occurs in aquatic organisms. This review may assist in interdisciplinary studies to evaluate potential toxicity of copper (II) oxide nanoparticles in aquatic ecosystems.