Environment International最新文献

{"title":"Predicting antifungal concentrations that select for resistance: an enhanced approach to establish environmental thresholds","authors":"Isobel C. Stanton ,&nbsp;Dominic P. Brass ,&nbsp;Holly J. Tipper ,&nbsp;Rachel A. Payne ,&nbsp;Aimee K. Murray ,&nbsp;Jennifer M.G. Shelton ,&nbsp;Adam M. Pym ,&nbsp;Alwyn Hart ,&nbsp;Daniel S. Read ,&nbsp;William H. Gaze ,&nbsp;Andrew C. Singer","doi":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110178","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110178","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Antifungal resistance (AFR) is an emerging threat. Understanding the concentrations at which antifungals select for resistance is critical for guiding policy to minimise risks. This study aimed to determine predicted no effect concentrations for resistance (PNECRs) for antifungals in water and soil. PNECRs for water (PNECRs_water) were derived from species sensitivity distributions fitted using a Maximum Likelihood Estimation approach to estimate the lower 5th percentile Hazard Concentrations (HC5s) from censored species/compound level MIC data and applying a 10-fold assessment factor. PNECRs_water ranged from 5.67x10^-4 (clotrimazole) to 7.94 µg/L (nystatin). PNECRs derived using standard methodologies that do not account for censoring are always higher, and therefore less conservative for environmental protection, than when considering censoring. PNECRs for soil (PNECRs_soil) were derived by applying soil partitioning coefficients to PNECRs_water for each antifungal, thereby providing an estimate for the bulk soil concentration needed to achieve the PNECR_water in soil pore water. These ranged from 2.26x10^-6 (voriconazole) to 2.16 mg/kg (nystatin). Risk quotients were generated from measured environmental concentrations, and 6.54% for water (n = 200) and 12.5% for soil (n = 1) were over 1, suggesting selection for AFR could be occurring. This type of data generation and analyses will inform discussions about targeted mitigation strategies to reduce the risk of selection for AFR, however, PNECR estimations can be improved with increased data for certain compounds, particularly agricultural fungicides. Preventing an increase in resistance is critical for reducing the risk posed to human health from exposure to environmental AFR.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":308,"journal":{"name":"Environment International","volume":"209 ","pages":"Article 110178"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147372155","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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":"Meteorological drivers of compound atmospheric events associated with summertime mortality excess in Spain","authors":"Ginés Garnés-Morales ,&nbsp;Pedro Jiménez-Guerrero ,&nbsp;Salvador Gil-Guirado ,&nbsp;Ester García-Fernández ,&nbsp;Eloisa Raluy-López ,&nbsp;Leandro Segado-Moreno ,&nbsp;Juan Pedro Montávez","doi":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110199","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110199","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Compound climate events involving concurrent heatwaves and air pollution episodes represent a growing threat to public health. This study identifies the large-scale synoptic patterns most frequently associated with such events and their impact on summertime excess mortality in mainland Spain from 2015 to 2022. Using a combination of principal component analysis and cluster techniques applied to ERA5 reanalysis data, we classify 12 circulation types (CTs). Two of them, associated with Iberian thermal lows and upper-level ridges (CT1 and CT4), are linked to simultaneous anomalies in maximum temperature (+4–6 °C), ozone (+10–<span><math><mrow><mn>25</mn><mspace></mspace><mi>μ</mi><mi>g</mi></mrow></math></span> m⁻³) and PM₁₀ (+10–<span><math><mrow><mn>40</mn><mspace></mspace><mi>μ</mi><mi>g</mi></mrow></math></span> m⁻³), together accounting for 25% of summer days.</div><div>To assess the impacts on mortality, the index M5d is proposed, representing the 5-day forward sum of all-cause deaths. CT1 and CT4 are associated with standardised M5d anomalies exceeding 1.5-2.0 standard deviations in several provinces, indicating a strong health response. Subtypes with Omega block configurations (e.g., CT1.3, CT4.4) show the highest efficiencies, with 70%–80% of days exceeding extreme thresholds for multiple variables and up to 50% efficiency in triggering excess mortality. These findings strengthen the scientific understanding of compound weather-health interactions in Southern Europe.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":308,"journal":{"name":"Environment International","volume":"209 ","pages":"Article 110199"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147448427","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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":"Capture sequencing demonstrates promising public health potential for post-COVID wastewater surveillance: a comparative multi-technique and spatiotemporal analysis","authors":"Xiaokang Li ,&nbsp;Bin Xu ,&nbsp;Zhisheng Lai ,&nbsp;Jianqiu Qin ,&nbsp;Changwei Liang ,&nbsp;Hong Xu ,&nbsp;Deqian Zhou ,&nbsp;Huanning Zhou ,&nbsp;Xueshan Zhong ,&nbsp;Zhiming Liu ,&nbsp;Chuanhao Cheng ,&nbsp;Yan Long ,&nbsp;Weiya Mao ,&nbsp;Conghui Liao ,&nbsp;Wenru Feng ,&nbsp;Yu Ma ,&nbsp;Linlin Zhang ,&nbsp;Daoqin Wang ,&nbsp;Hongwei Tu ,&nbsp;Changhua He ,&nbsp;Cheng Guo","doi":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110146","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110146","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has emerged as a scalable and cost-effective strategy for monitoring SARS-CoV-2 throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. In the post-COVID era, however, reliance on conventional molecular techniques, such as reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and amplicon-based targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS), limits comprehensive pathogen surveillance due to restricted genomic coverage and throughput, hindering early detection of emerging public health threats. In this study, we evaluated a hybrid capture-based sequencing (HybCapSeq) workflow using five probe panels, including three commercial and two custom panels, to compare SARS-CoV-2 detection performance and per-sample reagent cost with those of RT-qPCR and tNGS. We then applied the comprehensive viral capture panel for longitudinal wastewater surveillance (N = 343) across seven types of sampling sites in two Chinese cities. Temporal trends in SARS-CoV-2 genomic coverage derived from capture sequencing preceded reported clinical case trends by 1–2 weeks, demonstrating its potential as an early-warning indicator for wastewater monitoring. Compared with RT-qPCR, tNGS, and metatranscriptomic sequencing (MetaT), the capture-based approach showed comparable or superior performance in SARS-CoV-2 detection and variant tracking, while also enabling simultaneous detection of diverse human-pathogenic viruses, identification of putative novel viral taxa, and characterization of environmental virome composition. In addition, bacterial reads accounted for 95.05% of total reads in hybrid capture libraries (95% CI: 94.42–95.67%), highlighting the potential of this approach for profiling of bacterial and antimicrobial resistance genes in wastewater. These findings endorse HybCapSeq, combined with strategic probe design and site selection, as a robust WBE platform for pathogen surveillance, epidemic preparedness, and public health response in the post-COVID era.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":308,"journal":{"name":"Environment International","volume":"209 ","pages":"Article 110146"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146198831","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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":"Development of ciprofloxacin resistance coincides with non-cognate plasmid loss during biological wastewater treatment","authors":"Shuyan Wang ,&nbsp;Xiujing Wu ,&nbsp;Min Xu ,&nbsp;Shengchun Qi ,&nbsp;Youjun Feng ,&nbsp;Huijie Lu","doi":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110149","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110149","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Antibiotic pressure in wastewater and sludge is a critical driver shaping the environmental resistome and facilitating the spread of resistance. To assess this influence, activated sludge was exposed to ciprofloxacin (CIP) for 30 days. CIP markedly altered the resistome by increasing the absolute abundances of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) while reducing plasmids. In a parallel 60-day evolution experiment using an activated–sludge–derived <em>E. coli</em> under 2 μg/L CIP, evolved clones were classified into distinct groups based on ciprofloxacin resistance level, growth rate, and plasmid copy number. Group 3, consisting of plasmid-free clones with high growth rates and high-level CIP resistance, represented the fittest population and was predominantly associated with the <em>gyrA</em>-S83L mutation. Their rapid cell division likely outpaced plasmid duplication and segregation, leading to plasmid loss. In contrast, Group 2 comprised plasmid-bearing clones with elevated plasmid copy numbers but impaired growth and intermediate resistance, and was predominantly associated with the <em>gyrA</em>-D87G mutation. Group 1 retained traits most similar to the ancestor. Transcriptomics revealed different gene regulatory strategies employed by Groups 2 and 3 in response to CIP. Analysis of wastewater-derived plasmids and <em>E. coli</em> genomes further supported that CIP-driven chromosomal adaptations are associated with variations in plasmid prevalence and plasmid-borne resistomes. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that interactions between chromosomal resistance mechanisms and plasmid retention under antibiotic pressure are associated with differences in resistome structure in wastewater treatment systems, and highlight the need to account for these processes when managing antibiotic resistance in activated sludge.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":308,"journal":{"name":"Environment International","volume":"209 ","pages":"Article 110149"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146223175","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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":"Maternal pesticide exposure disrupts local inhibitory circuits in the reward pathway","authors":"T.J. Baumgartner ,&nbsp;H. Teimouri ,&nbsp;A. Venkatesh ,&nbsp;M. Marosi ,&nbsp;H. Zhao ,&nbsp;M. Bernabucci ,&nbsp;C.S. Nwosu ,&nbsp;J.Di Re ,&nbsp;L. Koff ,&nbsp;L.M. Hallberg ,&nbsp;B.T. Ameredes ,&nbsp;D. Labate ,&nbsp;F. Laezza","doi":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110151","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110151","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Maternal exposure to the pyrethroid pesticide deltamethrin (DM), even below the No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL), has been increasingly associated with models of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism-spectrum disorders (ASD). While recent studies have documented the impact of maternal DM exposure on offspring hippocampal circuits, its effects on the nucleus accumbens (NAc)—a key region implicated in NDDs—remain poorly understood. The NAc is composed of over 80% medium spiny neurons (MSNs), which serve as its sole output and rely on specialized local inhibitory interneurons to regulate firing patterns and synaptic integration. Here, we report subtype-specific dysfunction in parvalbumin-positive (PV+) inhibitory interneurons in the NAc of offspring following maternal DM exposure in mice. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from genetically labeled PV+ interneurons revealed that high input-resistance (IR) PV interneurons exhibited unique vulnerability. DM exposure significantly reduced maximum firing frequency and lowered action potential threshold, while low IR PV interneurons remained unaffected. Additionally, the probability of more frequent excitatory synaptic inputs onto high IR PV interneurons were significantly reduced. Mapping our data onto publicly available patch-seq data from a Mini-Atlas revealed that high IR PV interneurons express high levels of Shisa8, an accessory protein regulating AMPA receptor kinetics, and low levels of Grin2A, an NMDA receptor component, suggesting that specific local synaptic circuit disruption in DM-sensitive neurons. Thus, maternal DM exposure selectively impairs a subtype of inhibitory interneurons with unique physiological properties, potentially disrupting synaptic integration in the reward circuit and contributing to NDD-like phenotypes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":308,"journal":{"name":"Environment International","volume":"209 ","pages":"Article 110151"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146778020","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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":"Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and cannabinoids in secondhand cannabis smoke","authors":"Xiaochen Tang ,&nbsp;Abel S. Huang ,&nbsp;Marion L. Russell ,&nbsp;Gideon St. Helen ,&nbsp;Peyton Jacob III ,&nbsp;Hugo Destaillats ,&nbsp;Suzaynn F. Schick","doi":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110175","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110175","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The legalization of cannabis is exposing more people to secondhand smoke (SHS) generated during cannabis use. Given the serious health effects caused by tobacco SHS, there is a need to assess the potential health effects of exposure to cannabis SHS. As a step toward this, we measured the concentrations of cannabinoids, nicotine and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in air samples collected in public places where cannabis was being consumed. These were compared with concentrations in exhaled aerosols from cannabis smoking and vaping, and in tobacco SHS. Tetrahydrocannabinol concentrations were 22 to 255 µg/m³ in field samples, below the threshold for psychoactive effects. Nicotine concentrations in field samples did not exceed 1 µg/m³. The total PAH concentrations in field samples were from 3.2 to 80.5 ng/m³, depending on location type. By contrast, PAH levels averaged 72 ng/m³ in tobacco SHS and 220 ng/m3 in the more concentrated, exhaled cannabis aerosols. A total of 22 different PAHs were identified in field samples of cannabis aerosols, from which benz[a]anthracene (B[a]A) was present in the highest concentrations. The PAH profile of cannabis aerosols was different from that of tobacco SHS. A preliminary cancer risk evaluation showed that the dose associated with inhalation of cannabis SHS during an 8-h work shift exceeded the California No Significant Risk Level for B[a]A at all venues where cannabis was consumed primarily via smoking. In summary, the consumption of cannabis, by smoking and by vaporizing, can create aerosols that contain carcinogenic PAHs. Thus breathing secondhand cannabis aerosols increases exposure to carcinogens.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":308,"journal":{"name":"Environment International","volume":"209 ","pages":"Article 110175"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147330247","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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":"Impact of regulatory actions to establish maximum contaminant levels on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in New Jersey public water systems","authors":"Hari S. Iyer ,&nbsp;Stefanie A. Joseph ,&nbsp;Julianne Varga ,&nbsp;Chidinma Opara ,&nbsp;Judith M. Graber ,&nbsp;Robert J. Laumbach ,&nbsp;Panos G. Georgopoulos ,&nbsp;Jaime E. Hart ,&nbsp;Gloria B. Post ,&nbsp;Emily S. Barrett","doi":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110179","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110179","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency set drinking water Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for several PFAS in 2024, yet few evaluations of earlier state regulations have been conducted. We evaluated the impact of regulatory actions taken by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to set PFAS drinking water standards in NJ community water systems (CWS).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The NJDEP performed statewide testing of CWS PFAS levels in 2006 and 2009–2010, which were supplemented by additional CWS data reported to NJDEP and federal monitoring from 2013 to 2015 using methods including EPA method 537 and 537.1. The NJ Drinking Water Quality Institute formally recommended MCLs to NJDEP for PFNA (13 ng/L) in July 2015, for PFOA (14 ng/L) in March 2017, and PFOS (13 ng/L) in June 2018. Routine CWS monitoring began in 2019, covering the study period of 2006–2025. Quarterly PFOA, PFOS, and PFNA testing results were obtained from 47 CWS with monitoring data before and after the MCL recommendations. Using linear regression, we fit interrupted time series models to estimate the change and trend in PFAS levels following proposed MCLs.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>We obtained 4,150, 4,086, and 4,053 monitoring results for PFOA, PFOS, and PFNA, respectively. We observed declines in the proportion of PFOA (49.3% v s 14.9%), PFOS (11.6% vs 3.5%), and PFNA (23.6% vs 1.5%) results above the MCL following recommendation of PFAS regulations (chi-squared <em>P</em> &lt; 0.001). There was a 55% (95% CI: 11%, 77%) and 50% (95% CI: 14%, 71%) decline in PFOA and PFNA levels, respectively, following recommendation of MCLs. There were declines in quarterly trend in PFOS (2%, 95% CI: 0%, 5%) and PFNA levels (6%, 95% CI: 2%, 9%).</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>Regulated PFAS levels declined following formal recommendation of MCLs to NJDEP. Actions taken toward establishing regulations to limit drinking water PFAS exposures can achieve substantial reductions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":308,"journal":{"name":"Environment International","volume":"209 ","pages":"Article 110179"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147353186","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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":"Heatwaves and PM2.5 from wildfire smoke, non-wildfire sources, and all sources in relation to preterm birth: a nationwide cohort study in Canada","authors":"Qingyi Lan ,&nbsp;Sarah Henderson ,&nbsp;Eric Coker ,&nbsp;Naman Paul ,&nbsp;Stephanie E Cleland ,&nbsp;Jessica Evans ,&nbsp;Li Chen ,&nbsp;Annalise Ferro ,&nbsp;Jean-Nicolas Côté ,&nbsp;Alana Maltby ,&nbsp;Piotr Wilk ,&nbsp;Eric Lavigne","doi":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110185","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110185","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>With climate change, the frequency and intensity of heatwaves and wildfires are increasing. We examined the independent associations of acute heatwaves and wildfire smoke-impacted particulate matter ≤2.5 <!--> <!-->µm diameter (PM_2.5) with preterm birth outcomes, and their combined effects.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We conducted a nationwide population-based cohort study of singleton births in Canada (2010–2021). Temperature and PM_2.5 exposure during each gestational week were assigned from satellite data and a machine learning-based prediction model, respectively. Heatwaves were defined as 95th or 98th percentile regional weekly temperatures lasting 2–4 days (denoted as 95th-D2/D3/D4, 98th-D2/D3). PM_2.5 was categorized by regional percentile bins (≤50^th [ref.], 50–75th, 75–90th, &gt;90th) and absolute bins (&lt;6 µg/m³, ≥6–8 µg/m³, ≥8–10 µg/m³, ≥10–12 µg/m³, ≥12–14 µg/m³, ≥14–16 µg/m³, and ≥ 16 µg/m³). Cox models assessed independent effects, and the relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI) assessed combined effects.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Among 2,569,810 singleton births, 80,757 (3.1%) were preterm. Both PM_2.5 and heatwaves were independently associated with an increased risk of preterm birth. We observed a synergistic interaction (RERI &gt; 0) between heatwaves and non-wildfire PM2.5 that increased in magnitude with higher concentration percentiles_. The magnitude of this interaction increased as the heatwave threshold rose from 95th to 98th percentile, and as the duration increase from 2 to 4 days. Notably, the synergistic risk associated with 95th-D3 heatwaves and moderate (50th–75th) relative concentrations of wildfire smoke-impacted PM_2.5 (RERI = 0.35; 95% CI: 0.05, 0.65) was more than double the synergistic risk observed for corresponding moderate non-wildfire PM_2.5 (RERI = 0.16; 95% CI: 0.07, 0.25).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Co-exposure to PM_2.5 and heatwaves exerts a synergistic effect on preterm birth risk that is significantly amplified when the particulate matter originates from wildfires. These findings highlight the need for early warning systems and public health messaging targeting moderate wildfire smoke events.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":308,"journal":{"name":"Environment International","volume":"209 ","pages":"Article 110185"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147368226","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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":"Black carbon is detectable in association with small extracellular vesicles in fetal circulation","authors":"Houman Kahroba ,&nbsp;Kenneth Vanbrabant ,&nbsp;Julian Krauskopf ,&nbsp;Jacco Briedé ,&nbsp;Marcel Ameloot ,&nbsp;Michelle Plusquin ,&nbsp;Maarten Roeffaers ,&nbsp;Theo M. de Kok ,&nbsp;Tim Nawrot","doi":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110186","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110186","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Prenatal exposure to ambient air pollution, particularly black carbon (BC), has been linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes and life-long neurodevelopmental disorders. Yet the mechanism by which inhaled nanoparticles cross the placenta and reach fetal tissues is unclear. Here we show that black carbon (BC) is detectable in association with small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) in fetal circulation and in tissue-enriched sEV subsets. Using label-free two-photon microscopy, we visualised BC associated with individual sEVs isolated from cord-blood plasma of 20 mother-infant pairs. BC-sEV association occurred in 27 % of total cord-blood sEVs, 54 % of placental alkaline-phosphatase-positive (PLAP⁺) placental vesicles and 68 % of fetal-brain-derived (Contactin-2⁺) vesicles. Among BC-positive fetal-brain sEVs, &gt;90 % of the vesicle fluorescence co-localised with BC, demonstrating extensive pollutant loading. These findings provide evidence that BC can be detected in association with sEV-enriched preparations in fetal circulation, consistent with a possible role for sEV-associated carriage following transplacental particle transfer, though the dominant transport mechanism remains unestablished.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":308,"journal":{"name":"Environment International","volume":"209 ","pages":"Article 110186"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147407208","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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":"An environmentally relevant phthalate mixture impairs ovulatory prostaglandin and progesterone receptor pathways in human granulosa cells in vitro","authors":"Katie L. Land ,&nbsp;Hong Xu ,&nbsp;James W. Akin ,&nbsp;Patrick R. Hannon","doi":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110183","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110183","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ovulatory defects are the leading cause of female infertility. Widespread exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals, such as phthalates, may contribute to the high prevalence of failed ovulation among infertile women. Using primary ovarian granulosa cells obtained from women, we tested the hypothesis that exposure to an environmentally relevant mixture of phthalate metabolites (MPTmix) impairs essential mediators of the ovulatory process, including progesterone (P4), progesterone receptor (PGR), and prostaglandins (PGs). The composition of the MPTmix was derived from urinary phthalate levels in women. Ovarian granulosa cells, obtained from <em>in vitro</em> fertilization patients, were acclimated in culture to regain responsiveness to hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin, clinical luteinizing hormone analogue). Following acclimation, cells were treated for 0.5-36hr with media containing DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide, vehicle control), ± hCG (to initiate the ovulatory cascade), and ± MPTmix (1–500 µg/ml). Compared to hCG controls, treatment with hCG + MPTmix reduced active ovulatory PG levels by up to 77%, likely via decreased synthesis (lower PTGS2 and <em>PTGES</em> levels/activity), enhanced catabolism of PGE₂ to PGF_2α (elevated <em>AKR1C1</em> and <em>AKR1C3</em> levels), and increased metabolism (elevated HPGD levels/activity). MPTmix exposure further impaired PG function by altering the levels of PG transporters (<em>ABCC4</em> and <em>SLCO2A1</em>) and receptors (<em>PTGER1</em>-<em>4</em> and <em>PTGFR</em>). These MPTmix-induced disruptions were accompanied by upstream defects in LH/hCG receptor signaling (cAMP/PKA, ERK1/2), P4 steroidogenesis, and <em>PGR</em> expression. Together, these findings demonstrate that exposure to phthalates impairs P4/PGR-driven PG production/function in human ovarian cells and advances our mechanistic understanding of how phthalate exposure may contribute to ovulatory dysfunction in women.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":308,"journal":{"name":"Environment International","volume":"209 ","pages":"Article 110183"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147407832","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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}