Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety最新文献

{"title":"PM2.5 exacerbates nasal epithelial barrier damage in allergic rhinitis mice: A crosstalk between gut microbiota and NLRP3 inflammsome","authors":"Juan Li ,&nbsp;Huai Wei ,&nbsp;Ying Zhang ,&nbsp;Ning Wang ,&nbsp;Jing Chen ,&nbsp;Zhen An ,&nbsp;Jie Song ,&nbsp;Weidong Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118140","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118140","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Numerous studies have demonstrated a positive correlation between the frequency and severity of allergic rhinitis (AR) with fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) exposure, although the exact mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the role of gut microbiota disorder and NLRP3 pathway activation in PM_2.5-induced nasal epithelial barrier damage in AR mice. The results indicated that PM_2.5 could exacerbate rhinitis symptoms and epithelial barrier damage in nasal mucosa. The NLRP3 pathway-related proteins including NLRP3, Caspase-1, GSDMD, and IL-1β were elevated. Additionally, nasal mucosa injury was significantly worsen in AR mice with gut microbiota disorder. Gut Microbiomic studies indicated the <em>Ileibacterium</em> and <em>Alistipes</em> are associated with nasal injury exacerbation. Metabolomic analysis suggested that bile acid metabolism disorder is a potential contributor to aggravate nasal mucosa damage. The correlation analysis revealed that IL-1β was positively associated with <em>Alistipes</em>, <em>Ileibacterium</em>, cholic acid and PC (15:0/15:0). <em>Alistipes</em> was positively correlated with LPE18:2 and negatively correlated with zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and Claudin-1 proteins. In summary, gut microbiota disorder may cause abnormal bile acid metabolism and NLRP3 inflammasome activation, which participate in PM_2.5 exposure-induced exacerbation of epithelial barrier damage in nasal mucosa. This study supplied a new insight and potential targets for prevention and treatment of AR.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":303,"journal":{"name":"Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety","volume":"295 ","pages":"Article 118140"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143759261","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Association between microplastics exposure and depressive symptoms in college students","authors":"Jing Luo ,&nbsp;Song Lin","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118142","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118142","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Microplastics (MP) are pervasive environmental pollutants that have raised concerns regarding their potential health effects. However, limited studies have investigated the relationship between MP exposure and depression, particularly in college students. Our study aims to examine the association between MP exposure and depressive symptoms in college students.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A total of 1420 college students from Jiangsu College of Nursing, China, were included in this cross-sectional study. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2), and MP exposure was estimated based on daily airborne MP concentration and drinking-water MP levels. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate the associations between MP exposure and depressive symptoms.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The prevalence of depressive symptoms among college students was 61.8 %. The median (interquartile range) of total MP exposure was 17403.7 (14174.8–20995.9) particles/day. Airborne MP exposure exhibited positive associations with depressive symptoms, while no significant association was found between drinking-water MP exposure and depressive symptoms. Compared with participants in the lowest quartile of MP exposure, those in the highest quartile of total MP exposure had 38 % higher odds of experiencing depressive symptoms (odds ratio [OR] = 1.38, 95 % CI: 1.21–1.57). When treated as a continuous variable, each 1000-particle increase in total MP exposure was associated with a 7.0 % increase in the odds of depressive symptoms (OR = 1.07, 95 % CI: 1.04–1.10). Stratified analyses indicated that the association between MP exposure and depressive symptoms was stronger among male students and freshmen.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study suggests MP exposure is a contributing factor for depressive symptoms in college students.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":303,"journal":{"name":"Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety","volume":"295 ","pages":"Article 118142"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143759264","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Urinary microplastic contaminants in primary school children: Associations with behavioral development","authors":"Lingling Dong ,&nbsp;Xiang Li ,&nbsp;Yue Zhang ,&nbsp;Bingying Liu ,&nbsp;Xinzhong Zhang ,&nbsp;Lina Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118097","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118097","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Behavioral problems in children have been increasingly linked to environmental exposures. Microplastics (MPs), prevalent in urban environments, are emerging contaminants with potential neurodevelopmental effects. This study examines the relationship between urinary MPs and behavioral outcomes among primary school children in Shenyang, China. This study was conducted involving 1000 children aged 6–9 years from 40 schools across Shenyang. Urinary MPs, including polyamide (PA), polypropylene (PP), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), were quantified using optical microscopy. Behavioral outcomes were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Mixed-effect negative binomial models evaluated associations between MPs and SDQ scores, adjusting for relevant covariates. The median urinary total microplastic concentration was 9 particles/100 mL. Increased particle counts of urinary MPs were positively associated with higher scores for emotional problems, conduct problems, hyperactivity, and peer problems. Total microplastic levels were linked to increased emotional symptoms (estimate: 0.128, 95 % CI: 0.065–0.198, p &lt; 0.001), conduct problems (estimate: 0.231, 95 % CI: 0.140–0.323, p &lt; 0.001), and hyperactivity (estimate: 0.168, 95 % CI: 0.101–0.235, p &lt; 0.001). Peer relationship issues were also elevated with higher urinary microplastic levels (estimate: 0.206, 95 % CI: 0.133–0.271, p &lt; 0.001). Conversely, prosocial behaviors declined with increased microplastic concentrations (estimate: −0.125, 95 % CI: −0.192 to −0.052, p = 0.001). Stratified analyses indicated no significant differences in these associations between boys and girls. Overall, urinary microplastic concentrations were significantly associated with adverse behavioral outcomes in children, highlighting the potential neurodevelopmental risks of microplastic exposure.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":303,"journal":{"name":"Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety","volume":"295 ","pages":"Article 118097"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143759340","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"BPS causes abnormal blastocyst development by inhibiting cell proliferation","authors":"Qing Liu ,&nbsp;Ruisong Bai ,&nbsp;Xiaoyu Zhang,&nbsp;Siyu Wang,&nbsp;Zhipeng Lin,&nbsp;Yuheng Bi,&nbsp;Qing Ding,&nbsp;Wenya Zhang,&nbsp;Xiaoyun Wu,&nbsp;Shangrong Zhang,&nbsp;Zijian Ma,&nbsp;Hongcheng Wang,&nbsp;Xiaoqing Wu,&nbsp;Yong Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118115","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118115","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In recent years, the escalating global utilization of bisphenol S (BPS) has raised growing concerns regarding its potential adverse effects on human health. However, the effects of BPS exposure on mammalian embryonic development and the associated molecular mechanisms remain inadequately characterized. In this study, we systematically investigated BPS toxicity in mouse embryogenesis by exposing embryos to graded concentrations (0–25 μg/mL). Our results demonstrated a dose-dependent impairment in early embryonic quality following BPS exposure. Specifically, treatment with 10 μg/mL and 15 μg/mL BPS significantly reduced blastocyst formation rates, diminished implantation potential, decreased total cell number of blastocysts, and caused cell fate determination imbalance. Mechanistic studies revealed that under BPS exposure, the massive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in embryos induced cell cycle arrest and enhanced autophagy. It is worth noting that the reduction in the total cell number within blastocysts under BPS exposure manifested independently of the apoptotic pathway, as evidenced by the absence of upregulation in caspase 3/7 activity levels and TUNEL-positive signals. Our data collectively reveal that BPS disrupts early embryogenesis through ROS-driven cell cycle dysregulation and erroneous cell fate determination, culminating in compromised blastocyst developmental competence. This research unveils previously unrecognized mechanisms underlying BPS embryotoxicity, emphasizing essential parameters for evaluating chemical reproductive hazards in safety assessments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":303,"journal":{"name":"Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety","volume":"295 ","pages":"Article 118115"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143759257","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Evaluation of the combined impact of aflatoxin B1 and deoxynivalenol fed to Penaeus vannamei and mitigation properties provided by a yeast cell wall extract","authors":"Xiao Li ,&nbsp;Jinzhu Yang ,&nbsp;Weijian Huang ,&nbsp;Gang Lin ,&nbsp;Mingzhu Li ,&nbsp;Kangsen Mai ,&nbsp;Yanjiao Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118121","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118121","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The purpose of this study was to examine how white shrimp (<em>Penaeus vannamei</em>) responded to varying concentrations of combined mycotoxins (aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and deoxynivalenol (DON)) as well as the mitigating effects of an adsorbent (yeast cell wall extract, YCWE). The experiment comprised of five groups receiving isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets: CON (control group), LDA (CON with 20 μg/kg AFB1 and 1500 μg/kg DON), HDA (CON with 100 μg/kg AFB1 and 3000 μg/kg DON), LDAM (LDA with 0.2 % YCWE), and HDAM (HDA with 0.2 % YCWE). Results showed that the contents of total protein, total cholesterol, hemocyanin, and enzyme activities (e.g., catalase, phenoloxidase) in plasma were lower in HDA group, while the alanine aminotransferase activity and malondialdehyde content were higher. The HDA group showed up-regulated expression of apoptotic genes in the hepatopancreas but down-regulated expression of immune-related and antioxidant genes. In the LDA and HDA groups, the higher expression of inflammatory genes in hepatopancreas, the lowest chewiness of muscle and the higher abundance of potential pathogens (e.g., <em>Escherichia-Shigella</em>) in the intestine were observed. However, LDAM and HDAM diets were able to enhance the immune response, antioxidant capacity, and hepatopancreatic and intestinal health of shrimp, especially increased the abundance of intestinal bacteria for detoxification (e.g., <em>Pseudomonas</em>). Moreover, dietary YCWE also led to significantly greater mycotoxin content in the feces. In conclusion, the combined mycotoxins AFB1 and DON can negatively affect the health of shrimp, even at lower doses. But adding YCWE to the diets can effectively mitigate these negative effects.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":303,"journal":{"name":"Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety","volume":"295 ","pages":"Article 118121"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143759259","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Arsenic exposure provoked prostatic PANoptosis by inducing mitochondrial dysfunction in mice and WPMY-1 cells","authors":"Yiping Yang ,&nbsp;Xianglan Chen ,&nbsp;Longxin Deng ,&nbsp;Yurun Huang ,&nbsp;Yingxi Mo ,&nbsp;Jiazhou Ye ,&nbsp;Rong Liang ,&nbsp;Yaxin Qin ,&nbsp;Qingyun Zhang ,&nbsp;Shan Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118139","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118139","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Inorganic arsenic, a widespread environmental toxicant, significantly contributes to prostate injury. However, the exact cellular mechanisms remain unclear. This study explored the involvement of pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis (PANoptosis), and their interconnections in arsenic-induced prostate injury. Herein, by employing <em>in vitro</em> (WPMY-1 cells exposed to arsenic for 48 h with or without reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial ROS scavenger treatments) and <em>in vivo</em> (C57BL/6 mice were orally gavaged with arsenic and/or N-acetylcysteine for 90 consecutive days) models of arsenic-induced prostate injury and intervention, we demonstrated that sodium arsenite (NaAsO₂) triggered mitochondrial damage-activated PANoptosis via the Bax/Bcl-xL/caspase-3/Gasdermin E (GSDME) pathway and the Z-DNA binding protein 1/receptor-interacting protein kinases 1 (RIPK1)/RIPK3/mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL) signaling pathway. Notably, treatment with NaAsO₂, GSDME, or MLKL knockdown in WPMY-1 cells increased the phenotype of PANoptosis. Mechanistically, the GSDME-N, GSDMD-N, p-MLKL, and cleaved caspase-3 protein levels were increased (1.4-, 2.67-, 3.51-, and 2.16-fold, respectively) in NaAsO₂-treated GSDME knockdown WPMY-1 cells, whereas GSDME-N and cleaved caspase-3 protein levels were increased (1.30- and 1.21-fold, respectively) in NaAsO₂-treated MLKL knockdown WPMY-1 cells. Our study highlights the crucial role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the initiation of PANoptosis during arsenic-induced prostate injury. Furthermore, we provide novel insights into the connections between apoptosis, pyroptosis, and necroptosis, indicating that GSDME and MLKL proteins may act as crucial regulators and potential therapeutic targets for arsenic-induced PANoptosis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":303,"journal":{"name":"Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety","volume":"295 ","pages":"Article 118139"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143759265","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"The basic-region/leucine-zipper-motif 53 improves cotton’s salt tolerance by inhibiting tryptophan-arginine-lysine-tyrosine 68 expression and enhancing superoxide dismutase activity","authors":"Gaofeng Zhang ,&nbsp;Jingyuan Wu ,&nbsp;Weichao Li ,&nbsp;Tong Han ,&nbsp;Tianyi Huang ,&nbsp;Shibin He ,&nbsp;Lirong Sun ,&nbsp;Fushun Hao","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118130","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118130","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Basic-region/leucine-zipper-motif (bZIP) transcription factors are key players in modulating plant response to saline stress. However, whether and how GhbZIP53 regulates salt tolerance in cotton (<em>Gossypium hirsutum</em>) is an enigma. Here, <em>GhbZIP53</em> expression was demonstrated to be activated by NaCl, and GhbZIP53 positively regulated salt resistance by enhancing superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. GhbZIP53 could directly interact with the promoter of the transcription factor gene <em>tryptophan-arginine-lysine-tyrosine 68</em> (<em>GhWRKY68</em>), thereby inhibiting its expression. Additionally, GhWRKY68 notably suppressed the transcription of the <em>Cu/Zn-SOD</em> gene <em>GhCSD6</em> and the <em>Fe-SOD</em> genes <em>GhFSD2</em> and <em>GhFSD3</em>, further reducing SOD activity under salinity stress. Silencing each of <em>GhCSD6</em>, <em>GhFSD2</em>, and <em>GhFSD3</em> also markedly enhanced cotton’s sensitivity to saline stress. These results suggest that the GhbZIP53-GhWRKY68-GhSODs module serves crucial roles in salt tolerance by elevating SOD activity in cotton plants.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":303,"journal":{"name":"Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety","volume":"295 ","pages":"Article 118130"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143759258","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Prioritizing endocrine-disrupting chemicals targeting systemic lupus erythematosus genes via Mendelian randomization and colocalization analyses","authors":"Yanggang Hong ,&nbsp;Wanyi Shu ,&nbsp;Xiaoyang Jiang ,&nbsp;Yi Wang ,&nbsp;Rujie Chen ,&nbsp;Qianru Yang ,&nbsp;Deqi Wang ,&nbsp;Chenyou Shao ,&nbsp;Sheng Gao ,&nbsp;Chunyan Hua","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118126","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118126","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multifactorial autoimmune disease, with both genetic and environmental influences contributing to its development. Among environmental factors, endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), present in plastics, pesticides, and personal care products, have been implicated in immune disruption. This study investigated the interactions between EDCs and SLE-associated genes to elucidate their role in SLE susceptibility.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We employed Mendelian randomization (MR) and colocalization analyses to explore genetic predispositions and environmental interactions in SLE. Cis-expression quantitative trait loci (cis-eQTL) data were obtained from the eQTLGen Consortium, and genome-wide association study (GWAS) data for SLE were acquired from the IEU Open GWAS database. MR analysis was performed to establish causal links between gene expression and SLE, and colocalization analysis was used to validate these associations.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Our analysis identified 18 genes causally associated with SLE. Among them, five genes (CDCA7, HOXA1, LRRC37A4P, HOXA5, and DND1P1) showed strong evidence of colocalization with SLE. Further, 28 EDCs, including bisphenol A, bisphenol S, and endosulfan, were found to interact with these key genes, potentially influencing immune function and exacerbating the genetic susceptibility to SLE.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This study highlights the complex interactions between EDCs and genetic predisposition in SLE. The findings provide valuable insights into how environmental exposures, particularly EDCs, may contribute to the development and progression of autoimmune diseases like SLE. These results suggest potential targets for future therapeutic interventions and underscore the need for further research on gene-environment interactions in SLE.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":303,"journal":{"name":"Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety","volume":"295 ","pages":"Article 118126"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143759260","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Ultrafine particles deposition in human respiratory tract: Experimental measurement and modeling","authors":"Longfei Chen ,&nbsp;Muhammad Yousaf ,&nbsp;Jingsha Xu ,&nbsp;Xiaoyan Ma ,&nbsp;Xuhui Zhou ,&nbsp;Guangze Li ,&nbsp;Jonathan Symonds ,&nbsp;Rui Chen ,&nbsp;Shichuan Tang ,&nbsp;Fatemeh Salehi ,&nbsp;Jackline C.W. Njue ,&nbsp;Jos Lelieveld","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118123","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118123","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As part of the environmental contaminants, the ubiquitous ultrafine particles (UFPs) in the atmosphere pose adverse impacts on the environment and human beings. Human respiratory and cardiovascular diseases induced by UFPs strongly depend on their regional and total deposition fraction (TDF) in the respiratory tract. This study investigated the deposition of UFPs in various respiratory tract regions through transient and size-resolved measurement technique. Twenty healthy volunteers (10 males, 10 females) inhaled polydisperse NaCl particles (10–100 nm) under different conditions: breath-holding times (5, 10, and 15 s), inhalation flow rates (200, 400, and 600 L/min), and particle concentrations (0.5 ×10⁵, 1 ×10⁵, 1.5 ×10⁵ particles/cm³). An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to assess the fit and significance of the design of experiments (DoE) model. This analysis evaluated the significance of individual parameters as well as their interactive effects on the TDF. The results show that the mean TDF under all test conditions was slightly lower in females (0.910 ± 0.0021) than in males (0.921 ± 0.0023). The air exhaled at the end of the breath from the deep alveolar region contained fewer UFPs than that from the conducting region, as it resided longer in the respiratory tract. Moreover, the results revealed that men are more sensitive to changes in the influencing factors (<em>e.g.</em>, particle size, inhalation flow rate, breath-holding time, and particle concentration) than women. This study reveals the dynamics of UFPs deposition across different regions of the human respiratory tract, emphasizing sex-specific differences and key influencing factors. These findings provide valuable insights for developing targeted public health strategies, respiratory care approaches, and improved air quality regulations, with implications for environmental safety and occupational health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":303,"journal":{"name":"Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety","volume":"295 ","pages":"Article 118123"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143759263","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Polyethylene terephthalate microplastics affect gut microbiota distribution and intestinal damage in mice","authors":"Xiangying Sun ,&nbsp;Yin Zhuang ,&nbsp;Yubang Wang ,&nbsp;Zhenbo Zhang ,&nbsp;Lihui An ,&nbsp;Qiujin Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118119","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118119","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Polyethylene terephthalate microplastics (PET-MPs) have been detected in the environment and human metabolites or tissues; however, their potential effects on humans under actual exposure doses remain unclear. Herein, male adult mice were exposed to 10 µm PET-MPs at concentrations of 10, 50, and 250 mg/kg per body weight consecutively for 28 days. Changes in blood biochemistry, inflammatory factors, colonic histopathology, colonic mucus gene mRNA levels, and the gut microflora were monitored to study PET-MPs toxicity. The results showed that PET-MPs exposure increased relative serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and glucose (GLU) levels in 50 mg/kg bw PET-MPs exposure group, and altered relative levels of inflammatory factors, thereby inducing the inflammatory response. Moreover, PET-MPs exposure increased mRNA expression levels of colonic mucus secretion related and barrier function related genes, indicating intestinal mucus secretion and barrier integrity dysfunction, which was consistent with the results of histopathological results. In addition, gut microbiota analysis revealed that the diversity and community composition were altered after PET-MPs exposure, suggesting a metabolic disorder. Therefore, our results demonstrated that exposure to PET-MPs led to intestinal injury and changes in the gut microbiome composition in mice. Overall, the study findings provided basic data about the health risks of PET-MPs to humans, highlighting that MPs-induced toxicity warrants more concern in the future.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":303,"journal":{"name":"Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety","volume":"294 ","pages":"Article 118119"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143747342","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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}