ToxicsPub Date : 2025-05-12DOI: 10.3390/toxics13050387
Claudio Casella, Umberto Cornelli, Santiago Ballaz, Giuseppe Zanoni, Gabriele Merlo, Luis Ramos-Guerrero
{"title":"Plastic Smell: A Review of the Hidden Threat of Airborne Micro and Nanoplastics to Human Health and the Environment.","authors":"Claudio Casella, Umberto Cornelli, Santiago Ballaz, Giuseppe Zanoni, Gabriele Merlo, Luis Ramos-Guerrero","doi":"10.3390/toxics13050387","DOIUrl":"10.3390/toxics13050387","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Airborne micro and nanoplastics (MPs/NPs) are a growing issue due to their possible health hazards. Since the current bibliography lacks a thorough evaluation, this review examines the sources, environmental dynamics, and health impacts of airborne MPs/NPs. Through atmospheric transport processes, these neo-pollutants spread around the world after being released, potentially settling in urban and remote areas. This review is the first to compare active and passive aerosol sampling methods, and microscopy, thermochemical, and spectroscopy analytical techniques, with a focus on their limitations in precisely quantifying micro-nanoscale plastic particles. It also draws attention to the potential toxicological effects of inhaled MPs/NPs, which can lead to oxidative stress, respiratory inflammation, and other negative health consequences. This review concludes by examining how airborne MPs/NPs may worsen their ecological impact by serving as carriers of hazardous chemicals and microbial pollutants. Despite growing awareness, there still are many unanswered questions, especially about the impact of long-term exposure and how atmospheric conditions affect the spread of MPs/NPs. The aim of this review was to bring attention to the issue of airborne MP/NP effects and to promote the development of advanced monitoring systems, a new multidisciplinary scientific field for the study of these novel pollutants, and global regulatory frameworks.</p>","PeriodicalId":23195,"journal":{"name":"Toxics","volume":"13 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12115425/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144151726","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ToxicsPub Date : 2025-05-10DOI: 10.3390/toxics13050386
Xiaolin Niu, Junji Wu, Yi Chen, Na Luo, Yanpeng Gao
{"title":"Overlooked Photochemical Risk of Antimicrobial Fragrances: Formation of Potent Allergens and Their Mechanistic Pathways.","authors":"Xiaolin Niu, Junji Wu, Yi Chen, Na Luo, Yanpeng Gao","doi":"10.3390/toxics13050386","DOIUrl":"10.3390/toxics13050386","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Antimicrobial fragrances, commonly found in household and personal care products, are frequently detected in water bodies, yet their environmental fate and transformation mechanisms remain inadequately explored. This study investigates the photochemical transformation of cinnamaldehyde (CA), a representative antimicrobial fragrance, and its consequence for toxicological effects. The results showed that under UV irradiation, 94.6% CA was eliminated within 60 min, with a degradation rate of 0.059 min<sup>-1</sup>. Laser flash photolysis, quenching experiments, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectra identified O<sub>2</sub><sup>•-</sup> and <sup>3</sup>CA<sup>*</sup> as the important species, contributing 29.4% and 33.6%, respectively, to the transformation process. Additionally, singlet oxygen (<sup>1</sup>O<sub>2</sub>), hydroxyl radicals (<sup>•</sup>OH), and solvated electrons (e<sub>aq</sub><sup>-</sup>) were involved in mediating the oxidation reactions. These species facilitated photoionization and oxidation, resulting in the formation of five major transformation products, including cis-cinnamyl aldehyde, cinnamic acid, styrene, 1aH-indeno [1,2-b]oxirene), and 1-Oxo-1H-indene. Most of these products were persistent, and exhibited considerable ecotoxicological risks. Specifically, the cinnamic acid and 1-Oxo-1H-indene caused severe skin irritation, while cinnamic acid induced significant eye irritation. Notably, the transformation products demonstrated sensitizing effects on human skin. This study underscores the overlooked ecotoxicological risks associated with the photochemical transformation of antimicrobial fragrances, revealing their potential to generate potent allergens and other harmful byproducts.</p>","PeriodicalId":23195,"journal":{"name":"Toxics","volume":"13 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12115848/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144151272","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ToxicsPub Date : 2025-05-09DOI: 10.3390/toxics13050382
Alan D Kaye, Shivam S Shah, Leon LaHaye, John A Hennagin, Anna K Ardoin, Alexandra Dubuisson, Shahab Ahmadzadeh, Sahar Shekoohi
{"title":"Nitrofurantoin-Induced Pulmonary Toxicity: Mechanisms, Diagnosis, and Management.","authors":"Alan D Kaye, Shivam S Shah, Leon LaHaye, John A Hennagin, Anna K Ardoin, Alexandra Dubuisson, Shahab Ahmadzadeh, Sahar Shekoohi","doi":"10.3390/toxics13050382","DOIUrl":"10.3390/toxics13050382","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Nitrofurantoin, a commonly prescribed antibiotic for urinary tract infections, has been associated with rare but potentially serious pulmonary toxicity, which can present in acute, subacute, or chronic forms. Acute toxicity typically manifests in the form of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, which is characterized by fever, dyspnea, and eosinophilia, often resolving rapidly after drug discontinuation. However, chronic toxicity can lead to interstitial lung disease with progressive fibrosis, causing significant and sometimes irreversible pulmonary impairment. The pathophysiology of nitrofurantoin-induced lung injury is thought to involve oxidative stress, immune-mediated mechanisms, and direct cytotoxic effects; however, the exact pathways remain incompletely understood. Clinical diagnosis is challenging due to nonspecific symptoms that often resemble other respiratory conditions, leading to delays in recognition and treatment. Radiographic findings vary, with acute cases showing diffuse ground-glass opacities, while chronic cases may demonstrate reticular interstitial changes and fibrosis. The discontinuation of nitrofurantoin is the primary intervention, but corticosteroids may be beneficial, particularly in chronic cases with persistent inflammation or fibrosis, though their efficacy remains uncertain. Given the risk of long-term respiratory complications, heightened awareness among healthcare providers is essential for early diagnosis and intervention. Future research is needed to better define risk factors, improve diagnostic criteria, and explore alternative treatment strategies that mitigate the potential for pulmonary toxicity while maintaining effective antimicrobial therapy. This review explores the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic challenges, and management strategies for nitrofurantoin-induced pulmonary toxicity.</p>","PeriodicalId":23195,"journal":{"name":"Toxics","volume":"13 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12115811/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144151986","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ToxicsPub Date : 2025-05-09DOI: 10.3390/toxics13050384
Jinjin Zhou, Yage Shi, Yanfeng Zhou, Yang Ge
{"title":"Benzo[a]pyrene-Induced Developmental Toxicity in <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i>: Potential Involvement of Insulin/IGF Signaling and Collagen Gene Dysregulation.","authors":"Jinjin Zhou, Yage Shi, Yanfeng Zhou, Yang Ge","doi":"10.3390/toxics13050384","DOIUrl":"10.3390/toxics13050384","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) is a widespread and persistent organic pollutant that poses serious threats to human health. Although its carcinogenic properties have been extensively studied, its developmental toxicity and underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we employed <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i> (<i>C. elegans</i>) as a model organism to investigate the effects of B[a]P exposure during early developmental stages. To comprehensively assess B[a]P-induced developmental toxicity, we employed high-throughput sequencing along with transgenic and mutant <i>C. elegans</i> strains. Exposure to B[a]P at concentrations exceeding 1 mg/L significantly reduced larval body size, decreased the number of adult worms, and delayed larval-to-adult development. Furthermore, we analyzed the expression of genes involved in cuticle collagen synthesis and key components of the insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling (IIS) pathway, including daf-2 and daf-16. These findings suggest that B[a]P-induced developmental toxicity may be associated with dysregulation of the IIS pathway. Specifically, B[a]P appears to influence the activity of the downstream transcription factor daf-16, thereby altering the expression of collagen-related genes. This disruption in collagen synthesis may contribute to delayed larval development and impaired maturation. Our study provides new insights into the environmental hazards associated with B[a]P exposure and reveals a potential mechanism underlying its developmental toxicity. Moreover, our findings highlight the critical role of collagen gene regulation during early developmental stages. These genes may serve as potential biomarkers for environmental toxicant exposure, particularly in vulnerable populations such as children undergoing critical periods of development.</p>","PeriodicalId":23195,"journal":{"name":"Toxics","volume":"13 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12115400/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144152001","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ToxicsPub Date : 2025-05-09DOI: 10.3390/toxics13050383
Benjamin Bajželj, Marjana Novič, Viktor Drgan
{"title":"Utilizing Molecular Descriptor Importance to Enhance Endpoint Predictions.","authors":"Benjamin Bajželj, Marjana Novič, Viktor Drgan","doi":"10.3390/toxics13050383","DOIUrl":"10.3390/toxics13050383","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models are essential for predicting endpoints that are otherwise challenging to estimate using other in silico approaches. Developing interpretable models for endpoint prediction is valuable as interpretable models may provide valuable insights into the relationship between molecular structure and observed biological or toxicological properties of compounds. In this study, we introduce a novel modification of counter-propagation artificial neural networks that aims to identify key molecular features responsible for classifying molecules into specific endpoint classes. The novel approach presented in this work dynamically adjusts molecular descriptor importance during model training, allowing different molecular descriptor importance values for structurally different molecules, which increases its adaptability to diverse sets of compounds. We applied the method to enzyme inhibition and hepatotoxicity classification datasets. Our findings show that the proposed approach improves the classification of molecules, reduces the number of neurons excited by molecules from different endpoint classes, and increases the number of acceptable models. The proposed approach may be useful in compound toxicity prediction and drug design studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":23195,"journal":{"name":"Toxics","volume":"13 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12115611/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144152029","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ToxicsPub Date : 2025-05-09DOI: 10.3390/toxics13050385
Ting Wen, Chuanxun Li, Jiawen Liu, Peng Wang
{"title":"Risk Assessment of Dynamic Diffusion of Urban Non-Point Source Pollution Under Extreme Rainfall.","authors":"Ting Wen, Chuanxun Li, Jiawen Liu, Peng Wang","doi":"10.3390/toxics13050385","DOIUrl":"10.3390/toxics13050385","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>With the acceleration of urbanization, the diffusion mechanism of urban non-point source (NPS) pollution caused by extreme rainfall is not clear, which leads to high cost and difficulty in water environment treatment. In view of the shortcomings of dynamic diffusion simulations of mesoscale pollution, this paper proposes a simulation framework based on cellular automata, GIS geographic technology, and a two-dimensional shallow water model. Taking the 500 m × 500 m grid as the unit, we explore the migration laws of nitrogen and phosphorus pollutants and the response relationship between pollutant diffusion and land use under extreme rainfall scenarios. The results show that (i) the pollution risk increases significantly with diffusion, with the maximum pollution load in high-risk areas increasing by 181%, and the diffusion rate is positively correlated with the rate of change in rainfall intensity; (ii) forest land has the highest grid pollution load loss rate, whereas the water grid has the highest accumulation rate; (iii) this method can accurately identify the hot spots of pollution diffusion, providing a basis for the precise control of high-risk areas. This study can support the targeted governance of pollution sources and land planning optimization in urban storm and flood management, and help reduce environmental health risks in extreme climates.</p>","PeriodicalId":23195,"journal":{"name":"Toxics","volume":"13 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12115789/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144151822","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ToxicsPub Date : 2025-05-08DOI: 10.3390/toxics13050381
Nalae Moon, Su Ji Heo, Seungyoung Park, Hosub Im, Ju Hee Kim
{"title":"The Association Between Maternal Dietary Intake and the Risk of Heavy Metals in Human Breast Milk in Korea.","authors":"Nalae Moon, Su Ji Heo, Seungyoung Park, Hosub Im, Ju Hee Kim","doi":"10.3390/toxics13050381","DOIUrl":"10.3390/toxics13050381","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Heavy metals (HMs) persist in the environment and enter the human body via various pathways. Once stored in adipose tissue, they can be transferred to breast milk, posing risks to infants. Moreover, maternal diet plays a key role in influencing HM levels in breast milk. The aim of this study was to measure the concentration of HMs, including lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and arsenic (As), in the breast milk of Korean mothers, assess their potential health risks, and identify maternal dietary factors influencing HM concentration in breast milk. Survey data on maternal-infant pairs and breast milk samples from 209 healthy lactating mothers were collected between January and March 2023. Trained nurses manually expressed the breast milk to prevent external contamination, and maternal dietary intake was systematically assessed using the 24 h recall method. The concentrations of Pb, Cd, Hg, and As were measured, and a risk assessment was conducted using the estimated daily intake hazard quotient. A multiple linear regression model was employed to evaluate the association between the HMs in breast milk and maternal dietary factors. Cd was detected in 99% of the breast milk samples, and high detection rates were observed for Hg (97%), As (89%), and Pb (79%). Arsenic was the largest contributor to the potential health risks of HM-contaminated breast milk. Positive associations were observed between Pb concentration and legume and seaweed consumption, Cd concentration and vegetable and seaweed consumption, Hg concentration and sugar intake, and As concentration and meat intake. This study highlights that maternal dietary intake is closely linked to HM concentrations in breast milk, and elevated As levels potentially pose health risks to infants. These findings underscore the importance of adopting a healthy diet to reduce HM exposure in breast milk and to promote safer breastfeeding practices.</p>","PeriodicalId":23195,"journal":{"name":"Toxics","volume":"13 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12115469/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144152005","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ToxicsPub Date : 2025-05-07DOI: 10.3390/toxics13050379
Xuxin Zhang, Xu Gao, Zhenxing Chi
{"title":"Metabolite Monomethyl Phthalate (MMP) Induces Oxidative Damage in Rat Erythrocytes: Role of Vitamins C and E.","authors":"Xuxin Zhang, Xu Gao, Zhenxing Chi","doi":"10.3390/toxics13050379","DOIUrl":"10.3390/toxics13050379","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Dimethyl phthalate (DMP) can enter the human body and be absorbed into the bloodstream to produce monomethyl phthalate (MMP). MMP in the environment can also enter the bloodstream. However, little is known about the toxicity of the phthalate metabolite MMP in most organisms. In this study, the erythrocyte toxicity of MMP and a preventive approach were investigated using Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats as the model animal under MMP concentrations of 5-250 mg/kg (sub-chronic exposure in vivo) and 1.25-100 μg/mL (acute exposure in vitro). The experimental results indicate that the interaction of MMP with erythrocytes caused oxidative damage, which decreased the number of red blood cells and the hemoglobin content and increased the content of methemoglobin and the iron release of hemoglobin in rat blood. However, the above results were not observed when MMP directly interacted with hemoglobin. The antioxidants vitamin C and vitamin E improved the above blood indicators in rats. The results of this study provide certain theoretical guidance for the evaluation of the potential risks of phthalate metabolites.</p>","PeriodicalId":23195,"journal":{"name":"Toxics","volume":"13 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12115353/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144152045","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ToxicsPub Date : 2025-05-07DOI: 10.3390/toxics13050380
Helena Manjón-Prado, Enrique Serrano Santos, Eduardo Osuna
{"title":"Patterns of Polydrug Use in Patients Presenting at the Emergency Department with Acute Intoxication.","authors":"Helena Manjón-Prado, Enrique Serrano Santos, Eduardo Osuna","doi":"10.3390/toxics13050380","DOIUrl":"10.3390/toxics13050380","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Studies analyzing the prevalence of associated substance use are limited. Currently, the World Health Organization (WHO) defines polydrug use as the concurrent (simultaneous use) or sequential (use of one drug followed by another) abuse of more than one drug or type of drug, with dependence on at least one. Associated drug consumption can exacerbate the adverse effects and complicate the clinical management of patients. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of polydrug use, excluding tobacco, in patients presenting with acute intoxication in the Emergency Department (ED) of the Clinical University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca (Murcia, Spain) in the year 2023. To this end, a retrospective analysis of 2562 patients was conducted, examining demographic variables, substance use patterns, reasons for presenting to the ED, and the substances consumed by each patient. The study reveals an average patient age of 41 ± 0.5 (SD = 11.96) composed of predominantly male patients (74.4%). A high prevalence of benzodiazepines and cocaine use, often in combination, was observed. The main reasons for attendance included symptoms such as palpitations, dyspnea, vomiting, diarrhea, behavioral disturbances, and self-harm. Only 25.5% of patients admitted to consuming all substances detected in their analyses. Polydrug use is frequent in our environment, which can lead to added complexity in diagnosis and treatment. Consumption patterns show a profile strongly related to the age of the subject. Among the youngest subjects, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and benzodiazepines predominate, whilst among older subjects, alcohol and benzodiazepines, and sometimes cocaine, predominate. This study highlights the need to design specific intervention and prevention strategies to address patterns of substance abuse, the importance of family and community support, and the need to tackle challenges in identifying and treating cases of polysubstance abuse. Moreover, cooperation between the healthcare system and law enforcement is also important to obtain up-to-date knowledge of new drugs and their consumption patterns in an emergency context.</p>","PeriodicalId":23195,"journal":{"name":"Toxics","volume":"13 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12115533/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144151609","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Toxicological Effects of Combined Exposure of Cadmium and Enrofloxacin on Zebrafish.","authors":"Lingfei Ren, Yu He, Chao Hou, Chaoxuan Liao, Miao Chen","doi":"10.3390/toxics13050378","DOIUrl":"10.3390/toxics13050378","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The combined pollution of cadmium (Cd) and enrofloxacin (ENR) in aquatic environments represents a critical issue in environmental toxicology. Using zebrafish as model organisms, we systematically investigated the combined toxicity of Cd and ENR through both acute (96-h) and chronic (20-d) exposure experiments. Our results demonstrated significant synergistic effects: co-exposure reduced the 96-h LC50 values from 89.12 mg/L (Cd alone) and 190.11 mg/L (ENR alone) to 46.35 mg/L and 99.39 mg/L, respectively (combined effect index = 0.96). Chronic exposure revealed that ENR enhanced Cd accumulation in the liver, intestine, and muscle tissues by 1.11-2.33-fold compared to single Cd exposure. Oxidative stress markers showed dynamic temporal changes, with superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) activities initially increasing by 1.34-7.06-fold, 0.98-3.28-fold, and 1.53-3.65-fold at 8 d, respectively, followed by 9.9-48.98% reductions after 20 d of exposure. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels progressively accumulated, reaching up to 4.06-fold higher than controls. Notably, co-exposure elevated oxidative stress by 11.24-34.48% relative to single exposures. The 16S rDNA sequencing analysis indicated that Cd exposure significantly reduced the α-diversity of zebrafish gut microbiota (57-63% decrease in Shannon index), characterized by a 16-20% reduction in beneficial <i>Cetobacterium</i> and a 44-114% increase in pathogenic <i>Aeromonas</i> abundance. The combined exposure further exacerbated these gut microbiota dysbiosis patterns. These findings provide crucial evidence for ecological risk assessment, suggesting that current environmental standards based on single-pollutant evaluations may substantially underestimate the actual risks of heavy metal-antibiotic co-contamination in aquatic ecosystems.</p>","PeriodicalId":23195,"journal":{"name":"Toxics","volume":"13 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12115935/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144152023","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}