{"title":"Evaluation of Fly Ash Composition from Municipal Solid Waste Incinerators: The Role of the Incinerator Type and Flue Gas Deacidification Process.","authors":"Xuetong Qu, Yanan Wang, Feifei Chen, Chuqiao Li, Yunfei He, Jibo Dou, Shuai Zhang, Jiafeng Ding, Hangjun Zhang, Yuchi Zhong","doi":"10.3390/toxics13070588","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13070588","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The resource utilization potential and environmental impact of fly ash from municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWIs) have attracted wide attention. In this study, four MSWIs in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province were selected to systematically evaluate the effects of different incinerator types and flue gas deacidification processes on fly ash's oxide and heavy metal components and their temporal changes as well as conduct risk assessment. The results showed that the contents of MgO, Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, SiO<sub>2</sub>, and Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> in the grate furnace fly ash were significantly lower than those in the fluidized bed fly ash, but the compressive strength of its fly ash was high. Chemicals added during the flue gas deacidification process such as CaO and NaHCO<sub>3</sub> significantly affected the contents of CaO and Na<sub>2</sub>O. In addition, heavy metals such as Cu, Mn, Cr, and Ni were mainly distributed in the fluidized bed fly ash, while heavy metals such as Pb and Cd were mainly collected in the grate furnace fly ash. The concentrations of various components in the fly ash fluctuated but were not significant under different time dimensions. Risk assessment indicated that heavy metals such as Cd, Pb, and Sb posed a high risk. This study is expected to provide theoretical support for the safe management and resource utilization of fly ash.</p>","PeriodicalId":23195,"journal":{"name":"Toxics","volume":"13 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144708910","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ToxicsPub Date : 2025-07-14DOI: 10.3390/toxics13070590
Marco Evangelista, Nicola Chirico, Ester Papa
{"title":"New QSAR Models to Predict Human Transthyretin Disruption by Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): Development and Application.","authors":"Marco Evangelista, Nicola Chirico, Ester Papa","doi":"10.3390/toxics13070590","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13070590","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are of concern because of their potential thyroid hormone system disruption by binding to human transthyretin (hTTR). However, the amount of experimental data is scarce. In this work, new classification and regression QSARs were developed to predict the hTTR disruption based on experimental data measured for 134 PFAS. Bootstrapping, randomization procedures, and external validation were used to check for overfitting, to avoid random correlations, and to evaluate the predictivity of the QSARs, respectively. The best QSARs were characterized by good performances (e.g., training and test accuracies in classification of 0.89 and 0.85, respectively; R<sup>2</sup>, Q<sup>2</sup><sub>loo</sub>, and Q<sup>2</sup><sub>F3</sub> in regression of 0.81, 0.77, and 0.82, respectively) and significantly broader domains compared to the few existing similar models. The application of QSARs application to the OECD List of PFAS allowed for the identification of structural categories of major concern, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl ether-based, perfluoroalkyl carbonyl, and perfluoroalkane sulfonyl compounds. Forty-nine PFAS showed a stronger binding affinity to hTTR than the natural ligand T4. Uncertainty quantification for each model and prediction further enhanced the reliability assessment of predictions. The implementation of the new QSARs in non-commercial software facilitates their application to support future research efforts and regulatory actions.</p>","PeriodicalId":23195,"journal":{"name":"Toxics","volume":"13 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144708864","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ToxicsPub Date : 2025-07-14DOI: 10.3390/toxics13070589
Piper Reid Hunt, Martine Ferguson, Nicholas Olejnik, Jeffrey Yourick, Robert L Sprando
{"title":"Developmental Exposures to Three Mammalian Teratogens Produce Dysmorphic Phenotypes in Adult <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i>.","authors":"Piper Reid Hunt, Martine Ferguson, Nicholas Olejnik, Jeffrey Yourick, Robert L Sprando","doi":"10.3390/toxics13070589","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13070589","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Efficient new methods are needed to support initiatives to reduce, refine, and/or replace toxicity testing in vertebrates. 5-fluorouracil (5FU), hydroxyurea (HU), and ribavirin (RV) are mammalian teratogens. Skeletal, endocrine organ, and cardiac effects are often associated with teratogenesis, and a simple nematode like <i>C. elegans</i> lacks these systems. However, many genetic pathways required for mammalian morphogenesis have at least some conserved elements in this small, invertebrate model. The <i>C. elegans</i> lifecycle is 3 days. The effects of 5FU, HU, and RV on the <i>C. elegans</i> morphology were evaluated on day 4 post-initiation of the feeding after hatching for continuous and 24 h (early-only) developmental exposures. Continuous exposures to 5FU and HU induced increases in the incidences of abnormal gonadal structures that were significantly reduced in early-only exposure groups. The incidence of prolapse increased with continuous 5FU and HU exposures and was further increased in early-only exposure groups. Intestinal prolapse through the vulval muscle in <i>C. elegans</i> may be related to reported 5FU and HU effects on skeletal muscle and the gastrointestinal tract in mammals. Continuous RV exposures induced a phenotype lacking a uterus and gonad arms, as well as vulval anomalies that were largely, but not completely, reversed with early-only exposures, which is consistent with reported reversible reproductive tract anomalies after an RV exposure in mammals. These findings suggest that <i>C. elegans</i> can be used to detect the hazard risk from chemicals that adversely affect conserved pathways involved in organismal morphogenesis, but to determine the fit-for-purpose use of this model in chemical safety evaluations, further studies using larger and more diverse chemical test panels are needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":23195,"journal":{"name":"Toxics","volume":"13 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144708900","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ToxicsPub Date : 2025-07-13DOI: 10.3390/toxics13070584
Amanda Cohen-Sánchez, Montserrat Compa, Jessica Lombardo, Maria Magdalena Quetglas-Llabrés, Maria Del Mar Ribas-Taberner, Manuel Jiménez-García, Silvia Tejada, Antoni Sureda
{"title":"Physiological Stress Responses Associated with Microplastic Ingestion in the Benthic Flatfish <i>Bothus podas</i>.","authors":"Amanda Cohen-Sánchez, Montserrat Compa, Jessica Lombardo, Maria Magdalena Quetglas-Llabrés, Maria Del Mar Ribas-Taberner, Manuel Jiménez-García, Silvia Tejada, Antoni Sureda","doi":"10.3390/toxics13070584","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13070584","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Bothus podas</i> (wide-eyed flounder) is a benthic flatfish likely exposed to microplastic (MP) pollution. We investigated MP ingestion and associated physiological effects in wild <i>B. podas</i> collected from Mallorca (Balearic Islands), Spain. Markers of oxidative stress, detoxification, and immunity were quantified in intestinal, hepatic, and splenic tissues. MPs were observed in the gastrointestinal tracts of 87.5% of the 24 specimens analyzed, with an average of 3.8 ± 0.6 items per fish. Fiber-type MPs predominated in both the gastrointestinal tract (69.6%) and sediment samples (97%). Additionally, micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis confirmed that the majority of ingested MPs were composed of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyester. Fish were categorized into low (<3 items) and high (≥3 items) MP groups based on the median number of plastic items found in the gastrointestinal tract to assess sublethal impacts. In the gut, high-MP fish exhibited significantly elevated activities of detoxification enzymes: ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (phase I) and glutathione s-transferase (phase II), along with increased antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase and inflammatory myeloperoxidase. Gut catalase and malondialdehyde (MDA) were not significantly different between groups. In liver tissues, no biomarkers differed significantly with MP exposure. In the spleen, lysozyme and alkaline phosphatase activities were significantly higher in high-MP fish, while splenic MDA remained unchanged. These results indicate that gastrointestinal MP exposure triggers local oxidative stress responses and systemic immune activation in <i>B. podas</i>. Overall, ingestion of environmentally relevant MP levels elicited detoxification and inflammatory responses without significant increases in MDA, an indicator of oxidative damage, highlighting the physiological stress imposed by plastic pollution on benthic fish.</p>","PeriodicalId":23195,"journal":{"name":"Toxics","volume":"13 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144708887","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Perfluorononanoic Acid (PFNA) Exacerbates Atopic Dermatitis by Inducing Inflammation in Mice.","authors":"Jiali Xiao, Junchao Wang, Nuo Xu, Xulong Huang, Farid Khalilov, Xianfeng Huang, Xiangyong Zheng, Xiashun Xu, Shisheng Lin, Wengang Zhao, Elchin Khalilov","doi":"10.3390/toxics13070585","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13070585","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) is a ubiquitous persistent environmental pollutant, and several studies have found significant links between atopic dermatitis (AD) and prenatal exposure to PFNA. However, the relationship between PFNA and AD remains unclear. In this study, 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-treated female BALB/c mice were used as AD models to investigate the effects of PFNA and its potential mechanisms. These mice were topically applied with 5 mg/kg PFNA per day for 15 days. The results demonstrated that PFNA significantly increased AD lesion severity and clinical symptoms, including dermatitis score, ear thickness, and epidermal thickness. In addition, PFNA also increased the serum IgE level, splenic atrophy, and upregulated the expression of <i>TNF</i>-<i>α</i>, <i>IL</i>-<i>6</i>, and <i>IL</i>-<i>1β</i>, genes that are associated with skin inflammatory factors. In addition, Western blot results showed that PFNA treatment upregulated the expression of p-JNK protein. Additionally, cellular experiments indicated that RAW264.7 macrophages and mouse brain microvascular endothelial (bEnd.3) cells treated with PFNA at concentrations of 0.01-100 μM for 72 h showed no changes in cell viability. However, 100 μM PFNA upregulated the mRNA expression levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6, as well as the protein expression of p-JNK, in RAW264.7 cells induced with 1 mg/mL LPS for 2 h. Similarly, PFNA increased TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA expression and p-JNK protein expression in bEnd.3 cells stimulated with 20 ng/mL TNF-α for 0.5 h. Based on these findings, we can conclude that PFNA may aggravate atopic dermatitis by promoting inflammation.</p>","PeriodicalId":23195,"journal":{"name":"Toxics","volume":"13 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144708884","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ToxicsPub Date : 2025-07-12DOI: 10.3390/toxics13070582
Ioanna Efthimiou, Margarita Dormousoglou, Lambrini Giova, Dimitris Vlastos, Stefanos Dailianis, Maria Antonopoulou, Ioannis Konstantinou
{"title":"Evaluating the Cytotoxic, Genotoxic, and Toxic Potential of Pyrolytic Tire Char Using Human Lymphocytes and a Bacterial Biosensor.","authors":"Ioanna Efthimiou, Margarita Dormousoglou, Lambrini Giova, Dimitris Vlastos, Stefanos Dailianis, Maria Antonopoulou, Ioannis Konstantinou","doi":"10.3390/toxics13070582","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13070582","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Waste tires (WTs) constitute a potentially significant source of pollution, and the large quantities that are disposed of require proper handling. Pyrolysis has emerged as an environmentally friendly and effective method for WT treatment. In the present study, the cyto-genotoxic and toxic effects of untreated and acid-treated pyrolytic tire char (PTC<sub>UN</sub> and PTC<sub>AT</sub>, respectively) were investigated. The cytokinesis block micronucleus (CBMN) assay, using human lymphocytes, and the <i>Aliivibrio fischeri</i> bioluminescence assay were used for the assessment of cyto-genotoxicity and ecotoxicity, respectively. According to the results, both PTC<sub>UN</sub> and PTC<sub>AT</sub> exhibited genotoxicity at all concentrations tested (2.5, 5, and 10 μg mL<sup>-1</sup>), which was more pronounced in the case of PTC<sub>AT</sub>. Cytotoxicity induction was reported for PTC<sub>UN</sub> and PTC<sub>AT</sub> at all concentrations. Both demonstrated a relatively low potential for ecotoxicity induction against <i>A. fischeri</i>. Since the cyto-genotoxic and toxic effects of PTC<sub>AT</sub> seemed to be more pronounced, the toxic profile of tire char should be investigated in depth before selecting the appropriate applications, thereby avoiding detrimental effects in the environment and humans alike.</p>","PeriodicalId":23195,"journal":{"name":"Toxics","volume":"13 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144708909","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ToxicsPub Date : 2025-07-12DOI: 10.3390/toxics13070583
Joan Truyols-Vives, Marta González-López, Antoni Colom-Fernández, Alexander Einschütz-López, Ernest Sala-Llinàs, Antonio Doménech-Sánchez, Herme García-Baldoví, Josep Mercader-Barceló
{"title":"Airborne SARS-CoV-2 Detection by ddPCR in Adequately Ventilated Hospital Corridors.","authors":"Joan Truyols-Vives, Marta González-López, Antoni Colom-Fernández, Alexander Einschütz-López, Ernest Sala-Llinàs, Antonio Doménech-Sánchez, Herme García-Baldoví, Josep Mercader-Barceló","doi":"10.3390/toxics13070583","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13070583","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Indoors, the infection risk of diseases transmitted through the airborne route is estimated from indoor carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) levels. However, the approaches to assess this risk do not account for the airborne concentration of pathogens, among other limitations. In this study, we analyzed the relationship between airborne SARS-CoV-2 levels and environmental parameters. Bioaerosols were sampled (<i>n</i> = 40) in hospital corridors of two wards differing in the COVID-19 severity of the admitted patients. SARS-CoV-2 levels were quantified using droplet digital PCR. SARS-CoV-2 was detected in 60% of the total air samples. The ward where the mildly ill patients were admitted had a higher occupancy, transit of people in the corridor, and CO<sub>2</sub> levels, but there were no significant differences in SARS-CoV-2 detection between wards. The mean CO<sub>2</sub> concentration in the positive samples was 569 ± 35.6 ppm. Considering all samples, the CO<sub>2</sub> levels in the corridor were positively correlated with patient door openings but inversely correlated with SARS-CoV-2 levels. In conclusion, airborne SARS-CoV-2 can be detected indoors with optimal ventilation, and its levels do not scale with CO<sub>2</sub> concentration in hospital corridors. Therefore, CO<sub>2</sub> assessment should not be interpreted as a surrogate of airborne viral presence in all indoor spaces.</p>","PeriodicalId":23195,"journal":{"name":"Toxics","volume":"13 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144708840","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ToxicsPub Date : 2025-07-10DOI: 10.3390/toxics13070580
Thaís de Castro Paiva, Inácio Abreu Pestana, Lorena Nascimento Leite Miranda, Gabriel Oliveira de Carvalho, Wanderley Rodrigues Bastos, Daniele Kasper
{"title":"Mercury Scenario in Fish from the Amazon Basin: Exploring the Interplay of Social Groups and Environmental Diversity.","authors":"Thaís de Castro Paiva, Inácio Abreu Pestana, Lorena Nascimento Leite Miranda, Gabriel Oliveira de Carvalho, Wanderley Rodrigues Bastos, Daniele Kasper","doi":"10.3390/toxics13070580","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13070580","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Amazon faces significant challenges related to mercury contamination, including naturally elevated concentrations and gold mining activities. Due to mercury's toxicity and the importance of fish as a protein source for local populations, assessing mercury levels in regional fish is crucial. However, there are gaps in knowledge regarding mercury concentrations in many areas of the Amazon basin. This study aims to synthesize the existing literature on mercury concentrations in fish and the exposure of urban and traditional social groups through fish consumption. A systematic review (1990-2022) was conducted for six fish genera (<i>Cichla</i> spp., <i>Hoplias</i> spp. and <i>Plagioscion</i> spp., <i>Leporinus</i> spp., <i>Semaprochilodus</i> spp., and <i>Schizodon</i> spp.) in the Web of Science (Clarivate Analytics) and Scopus (Elsevier) databases. The database consisted of a total of 46 studies and 455 reports. The distribution of studies in the region was not homogeneous. The most studied regions were the Madeira River sub-basin, while the Paru-Jari basin had no studies. Risk deterministic and probabilistic assessments based on Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA, 2007) guidelines showed high risk exposure, especially for traditional communities. Carnivorous fish from lakes and hydroelectric reservoirs, as well as fish from black-water ecosystems, exhibited higher mercury concentrations. In the Amazon region, even if mercury levels in fish muscle do not exceed regulatory limits, the high fish consumption can still elevate health risks for local populations. Monitoring mercury levels across a broader range of fish species, including both carnivorous and non-carnivorous species, especially in communities heavily reliant on fish for their diet, will enable a more accurate risk assessment and provide an opportunity to recommend fish species with lower mercury exposure risk for human consumption. The present study emphasizes the need to protect regions that already exhibit higher levels of mercury-such as lakes, hydroelectric reservoirs, and black-water ecosystems-to ensure food safety and safeguard public health.</p>","PeriodicalId":23195,"journal":{"name":"Toxics","volume":"13 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144708856","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ToxicsPub Date : 2025-07-10DOI: 10.3390/toxics13070581
Katherine Simbaña-Rivera, María Cristo Rodríguez-Pérez, Manuel Enrique Fuentes-Ferrer, Manuel Zumbado Peña, Ángel Rodríguez Hernández, Julia Eychenne, Lucie Sauzéat, Damary S Jaramillo-Aguilar, Ana Rodríguez Chamorro, Luis D Boada
{"title":"Biomonitoring of Inorganic Pollutants in Blood Samples of Population Affected by the Tajogaite Eruption: The ISVOLCAN Study in Spain.","authors":"Katherine Simbaña-Rivera, María Cristo Rodríguez-Pérez, Manuel Enrique Fuentes-Ferrer, Manuel Zumbado Peña, Ángel Rodríguez Hernández, Julia Eychenne, Lucie Sauzéat, Damary S Jaramillo-Aguilar, Ana Rodríguez Chamorro, Luis D Boada","doi":"10.3390/toxics13070581","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13070581","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Volcanic eruptions release gases and particulates that may adversely affect human health. The Tajogaite eruption on La Palma provided a unique opportunity to evaluate inorganic pollutant exposure in a directly affected population. As part of the ISVOLCAN study, blood samples from 393 adults residing in the island's western region were analyzed for 43 inorganic elements using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), including 20 toxic elements identified by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). The median age of participants was 51 years, and 56.7% were female. Higher levels of Hg and Mn were associated with long-term occupational exposure, while smoking was linked to elevated Cd, Pb, and Sr levels. Participants living within 6.5 km of the volcano had significantly higher concentrations of Al and Ti. Ash cleanup activities were associated with increased levels of Ni and Cu, and those spending over five hours outdoors daily showed elevated Se and Pb. This is the first biomonitoring study to assess blood concentrations of inorganic pollutants in a population exposed to volcanic emissions. The findings highlight key exposure factors and underscore the need for continued research to assess long-term health effects and inform public health measures.</p>","PeriodicalId":23195,"journal":{"name":"Toxics","volume":"13 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144708891","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ToxicsPub Date : 2025-07-10DOI: 10.3390/toxics13070579
Yuan Zhang, Yanting Li, Yang Li, Lin Zhao, Yongkui Yang
{"title":"Interpretable Machine Learning Models and Symbolic Regressions Reveal Transfer of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) in Plants: A New Small-Data Machine Learning Method to Augment Data and Obtain Predictive Equations.","authors":"Yuan Zhang, Yanting Li, Yang Li, Lin Zhao, Yongkui Yang","doi":"10.3390/toxics13070579","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13070579","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Machine learning (ML) techniques are becoming increasingly valuable for modeling the transport of pollutants in plant systems. However, two challenges (small sample sizes and a lack of quantitative calculation functions) remain when using ML to predict migration in hydroponic systems. For the bioaccumulation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, we studied the key factors and quantitative calculation equations based on data augmentation, ML, and symbolic regression. First, feature expansion was performed on the input data after data preprocessing; the most important step was data augmentation. The original training set was expanded nine times by combining the synthetic minority oversampling technique and a variational autoencoder. Subsequently, the four ML models were applied to the test set to predict the selected output parameters. Categorical boosting (CatBoost) had the highest prediction accuracy (<i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.83). The Shapley Additive Explanation values indicated that molecular weight and exposure time were the most important parameters. We applied three symbolic regression models to obtain accurate prediction equations based on the original and augmented data. Based on augmented data, the high-dimensional sparse interaction equation exhibited the highest accuracy (<i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.776). Our results indicate that this method could provide crucial insights into absorption and accumulation in plant roots.</p>","PeriodicalId":23195,"journal":{"name":"Toxics","volume":"13 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144708927","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}