{"title":"Characteristics, behaviour and fluxes of microplastics in the coastal boundary zone of the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea","authors":"Sajjad Abbasi, Andrew Turner","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126305","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126305","url":null,"abstract":"Relatively little is known about microplastics (MPs) in the atmosphere of the coastal zone, including their interaction with the sea surface. In this study, MPs have been determined and characterised in the lower atmosphere, advecting air, depositing dusts, coastal sediments and seawater of the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea using a variety of sampling techniques (including filtration of water and pumped air and deployment of a vertical array of sediment traps). MPs were detected in all samples and were dominated by fibres that were, in most cases, small (< 100 μm) and black. MP numbers captured in advecting air showed no trends with height or differences between locations or deployments over land and sea, but a clear increase was observed during strong winds. MPs in atmospheric suspension and in deposited dusts, sediments and seawater were also heterogeneously distributed. Environmental or transport pathway fractionation was evident according to morphology and particle size (% fibres and % small fibres) and to polymer density. Regarding the latter, relatively low-density polymers (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene) were more abundant in the atmosphere, advecting air and seawater, whereas higher density polymers (e.g., regenerated cellulosics, polyethylene terephthalate) were more abundant in settling dusts and sediments. Fluxes, based on particle counts and converted MP m<sup>-2</sup> h<sup>-1</sup>, revealed advection (up to ∼ 1.2 x 10<sup>6</sup>) was greater than deposition (up to ∼ 400) by at least three orders of magnitude over land but only by a factor of about 400 over sea. Neglecting any differences in resuspension, this suggests a greater net loss of airborne MPs over the ocean. Net settling velocities for the population of MPs in the lower atmosphere, derived from depositional fluxes and concentrations in air, ranged from about 1.2 to 13.1 m h<sup>-1</sup>, with residence times ranging from 45 min to 8.3 h. Our observations suggest that long-range transport of the type of MPs detected is constrained by a succession of deposition-resuspension cycles that must be factored into future modelling.","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"74 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143876364","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Chemical and Optical Distinctions Between Elemental Carbon Subcategories Char-EC and Soot-EC: Insights from a Haze Event in North China","authors":"Huimin Xu, Junjie Cai, Xinxin Feng, Hongxing Jiang, Yu Peng, Yanjie Lu, Yingjun Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126306","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126306","url":null,"abstract":"Elemental carbon (EC),an important pollutant component in the atmosphere, is composed of two subcategories: Char-EC and Soot-EC. Their differences in chemical structure and light absorption capacity need further investigation. This study focused on an hourly time-resolved haze event in Wangdu, Hebei Province, eliminating potential interference from organic carbon, to compare the differences in aromatic condensation degree and mass absorption cross-section (MAC) between Soot-EC and Char-EC. The results indicate that, in terms of chemical structure, Soot-EC is a EC component with a higher aromatic condensation degree than Char-EC. During the haze event, the average number of carboxyl groups (NCOOH) and the ratio of B6CA/B6CA (B6/B5) in Soot-EC were higher than those in Char-EC (NCOOH<sub>Soot-EC</sub> 5.88±0.17>NCOOH<sub>Char-EC</sub> 5.42±0.20 ; (B6/B5)<sub>Soot-EC</sub> 10.57±4.27>(B6/B5)<sub>Char-EC</sub> 4.71±2.59). In terms of light absorption capacity, the average MAC of Char-EC (9.52±3.17 m<sup>2</sup>/g) was 1.64 times higher than that of Soot-EC (5.82 ± 2.88 m<sup>2</sup>/g) during this haze event. However, aromatic condensation degree could only explain a small portion of the difference in MAC between Soot-EC and Char-EC. Source apportionment results indicated that EC emissions during this haze event were mainly attributed to significant contributions from biomass burning (BB). The higher light absorption capacity of Char-EC may be due to the higher oxygen-containing group content in Char-EC emitted from BB.","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143872132","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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}
Ying Wang, Liu Yang, Jiyuan Shao, Huiyu Gao, Dan Norbäck, Yunquan Zhang, Jing Wei, Ling Zhang, Xin Zhang
{"title":"Effect of pregnancy and infancy exposure to outdoor particulate matter (PM1, PM2.5, PM10) and SO2 on childhood pneumonia in preschool children in Taiyuan City, China","authors":"Ying Wang, Liu Yang, Jiyuan Shao, Huiyu Gao, Dan Norbäck, Yunquan Zhang, Jing Wei, Ling Zhang, Xin Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126303","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126303","url":null,"abstract":"There is currently a paucity of research on the effects of early life exposure to particulate matter (PM) of various size fractions on pneumonia in preschool-aged children. We explored the connections between antenatal and postnatal atmospheric pollutants and diagnosed pneumonia among 4814 offspring children in Taiyuan City, northern China. Outdoor air pollutant concentrations and ambient temperature were collected. A machine learning-based model was utilized to compute daily means of PM<sub>10</sub>, PM<sub>2.5</sub>, and PM<sub>1</sub> at the home address. Associations were calculated using generalized linear mixed models, and alternate analysis was used to detect sensitive subpopulations. We observed an association between prenatal exposure to atmospheric pollutants and the incidence of pneumonia in children. For every 10 μg/m<sup>3</sup> increase, the odds ratios (ORs) were 1.06 for PM<sub>10</sub>, 1.15 for PM<sub>2.5</sub>, 1.24 for PM<sub>1</sub> and 1.05 for SO<sub>2</sub> for the whole pregnancy period. In mid-pregnancy, the most vital connections were found for PM<sub>10</sub>, PM<sub>2.5</sub>, and PM<sub>1</sub> exposure. Girls showed higher sensitivity to exposure to PM<sub>2.5</sub> and PM<sub>10</sub>. The most significant connections between PM and pneumonia were observed at high SO<sub>2</sub> exposure. Connections between PM<sub>1,</sub> PM<sub>2.5</sub> and pneumonia were stronger in children without environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) at home. Associations between PM<sub>10</sub> and pneumonia were stronger in children with ETS at home. The synthesis of the data suggests that exposure to PM<sub>10</sub>, PM<sub>2.5</sub>, PM<sub>1</sub>, and SO<sub>2</sub> during pregnancy contributes to an elevated susceptibility to childhood pneumonia. The second trimester period is significant and represents a critical window of vulnerability. PM<sub>1</sub> can have the strongest impact. Exposure to SO<sub>2</sub> can further enhance the PM related risks of pneumonia. Gender and ETS exposure at home can modify associations between outdoor PM and pneumonia. Further reduction of outdoor PM, especially PM<sub>1</sub>, is needed in China to reduce childhood pneumonia.","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"32 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143872133","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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}
Fernando Garrido de Oliveira , Lilian Dena dos Santos , Alessandra Svonka Palmeiro
{"title":"Assessment of surface water quality based on physical and chemical parameters in a GIS, for three rivers in southern Brazil","authors":"Fernando Garrido de Oliveira , Lilian Dena dos Santos , Alessandra Svonka Palmeiro","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126295","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126295","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Land use and land cover changes significantly impact water quality worldwide. In Brazil, the expansion of agricultural activities and the introduction of pollutants severely compromise surface water quality, posing risks to aquatic life. This study evaluated, for the first time, the water quality of the São Camilo, Santa Fé, and Pioneiro Rivers in the western region of Paraná, a key agricultural area in southern Brazil. Using a Water Quality Index (WQI) integrated with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), water samples were collected in winter 2022 and summer 2023 at three points along each river: upstream, midstream, and downstream. Eleven physical and chemical parameters were analyzed. Spatial interpolation via the Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) method was used to generate WQI maps. Results showed medium water quality in the São Camilo River in both seasons. In the Santa Fé River, quality ranged from medium to bad, particularly at the urban-impacted midstream point. In the Pioneiro River, water quality was medium, with improved conditions at the downstream site. Findings indicate that untreated domestic effluents, agricultural runoff, and aquaculture waste significantly contribute to water degradation. The integration of WQI and GIS proved effective in assessing spatial patterns of water quality and can support environmental monitoring and public policy planning.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"375 ","pages":"Article 126295"},"PeriodicalIF":7.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143862819","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Attending to the effects of outdoor temperature on blood pressure: multicenter study based on ambulatory monitoring","authors":"Jialu Hu, Xiaowei Xue, Mengyuan Cheng, Xingyi Qiu, Renjie Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126301","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126301","url":null,"abstract":"Sudden fluctuations in blood pressure (BP) over a short period may trigger cardiovascular events, and outdoor temperature may be a risk factor. There is a lack of conclusive observational evidence linked hourly temperature with ambulatory BP indicators. We aimed to explore the effects of hourly outdoor temperature on ambulatory BP, BP variability and load. A large-scale, multicenter study among 31,838 adults from 7 Chinese cities was conducted between March, 2016 and November, 2020. Hourly temperature was obtained from the nearest weather stations. We collected ambulatory systolic (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), the BP variability and load of the day, and used linear mixed-effect model combined with distributed lag models to analyze data. Outdoor temperature was inversely associated with most ambulatory BP indicators. The effects of low temperature on BP appeared and peaked at the concurrent hour, then gradually attenuated and disappeared around at lag 20h. Compared to the referent temperature (P<sub>99</sub>), exposure to low temperature (P<sub>1</sub>) was associated with cumulative increments (over lag 0 to 20 h) of 9.71 mmHg, 4.85 mmHg and 20.58 mmHg for 24-hour, nighttime and morning SBP, respectively, as well as 8.71 mmHg, 4.72 mmHg and 14.32 mmHg for 24-hour, nighttime and morning DBP. Furthermore, there were significant associations between decreasing temperature and increased BP variability and load at lag 0 d. Our study provides compelling evidence that low temperature can elevate BP-related indicators, underscoring the necessity of flexible treatment strategies and targeted public health interventions, especially for susceptible populations during the cold season.","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143866401","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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}
Gunnar Hansen, Sandra E. Shumway, Robert P. Mason, Zofia Baumann
{"title":"Mercury distribution with size between the tissues of the northern quahog (= hard clam) (Mercenaria mercenaria)","authors":"Gunnar Hansen, Sandra E. Shumway, Robert P. Mason, Zofia Baumann","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126287","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126287","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"375 ","pages":"Article 126287"},"PeriodicalIF":7.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143862814","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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}
Amrin Ahmed , Steven Hawken , Anna Gunz , Robert Talarico , Chengchun Yu , Carmen Messerlian , Yu Zhang , Hong Chen , Scott Weichenthal , Aaron van Donkelaar , Randall V. Martin , Éric Lavigne
{"title":"Prenatal exposure to fine particulate matter composition and risk of cerebral palsy: A population-based retrospective cohort study in Ontario, Canada","authors":"Amrin Ahmed , Steven Hawken , Anna Gunz , Robert Talarico , Chengchun Yu , Carmen Messerlian , Yu Zhang , Hong Chen , Scott Weichenthal , Aaron van Donkelaar , Randall V. Martin , Éric Lavigne","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126302","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126302","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Existing literature suggests an association between prenatal exposure to fine particulate air pollution (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) and cerebral palsy (CP). However, the impact of individual PM<sub>2.5</sub> components (SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2−</sup>, NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>, NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>, SS, BC, dust, OM) on CP risk remains unknown.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To examine the associations between prenatal exposure to PM<sub>2.5</sub> components, and risk of CP among term births in Ontario, Canada.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This was a retrospective cohort study that examined term births (gestational age ≥37 completed weeks) from April 2002 to December 2020. PM<sub>2.5</sub> total mass and composition measures were assigned to maternal residence at birth using satellite-based estimates and ground-level monitoring data. Cohort data were compiled using health administrative databases. Single-pollutant distributed lag cox proportional hazard models, with and without additional adjustment for PM<sub>2.5</sub> residuals, were used to investigate the associations between gestational exposures to PM<sub>2.5</sub> total mass and its components.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>2,193,427 mother-infant pairs were identified, of which 3907 were diagnosed with CP during the follow-up period. Increased risk of CP was found for SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2−</sup> exposure during early pregnancy in both residual-adjusted (HR: 1.052, 95 % CI: 1.009–1.097, per IQR = 0.94 μg/m<sup>3</sup>), and non-adjusted models (HR: 1.050, 95 % CI: 1.007–1.095, per IQR = 0.94 μg/m<sup>3</sup>). The concentration-response relationship between the sensitive window found for SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2−</sup> and CP risk (weeks 4–9 of gestation) showcased a supralinear pattern.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Prenatal exposure to SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2−</sup> may be associated with increased CP risk during the early pregnancy period. Associations between prenatal PM<sub>2.5</sub> total mass and composition exposure and CP risk should be further investigated.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"375 ","pages":"Article 126302"},"PeriodicalIF":7.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143862816","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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}
Taiyue Jin, Seulbi Lee, Juhee Seo, Shinhee Ye, Soontae Kim, Jin-Kyoung Oh, Seyoung Kim, Byungmi Kim
{"title":"Long-term ambient ozone exposure and lung cancer mortality: a nested case-control study in Korea","authors":"Taiyue Jin, Seulbi Lee, Juhee Seo, Shinhee Ye, Soontae Kim, Jin-Kyoung Oh, Seyoung Kim, Byungmi Kim","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126299","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126299","url":null,"abstract":"The link between long-term exposure to tropospheric ozone (O<sub>3</sub>) and risk of lung cancer mortality remains uncertain. We aimed to provide new insights into the association between long-term O<sub>3</sub> exposure and lung cancer mortality in Korea. A nested case-control study was conducted within a cancer-free cohort of 1,731,513 individuals who underwent health screenings provided by the National Health Insurance Service in 2006–2007. A total of 7,133 lung cancer deaths that occurred from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2021, were matched to 28,532 controls at a 1:4 ratio based on propensity scores. Daily 24-hour and 8-hour maximum O<sub>3</sub> concentrations, averaged year-round and during the warm season from 2006 to 2010, were estimated for participants based on their residential addresses using the Community Multiscale Air Quality model. O<sub>3</sub> concentrations rise during the daytime, also exhibiting seasonal variations, with the highest levels occurring in the warm season. Elevated risk of lung cancer mortality was observed among participants in the highest quartile of O<sub>3</sub> exposure compared with those in the lowest quartile, yielding odds ratios ranging from 1.15 to 1.27. However, when exposure to particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 μm or less (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) was further adjusted for, the adverse risk of long-term O<sub>3</sub> exposure was attenuated, even tending to be protective. Notably, participants with both high O<sub>3</sub> and high PM<sub>2.5</sub> exposures had an increased risk of lung cancer mortality. Furthermore, regional differences were observed, with a significantly higher risk in rural areas. Findings of this study suggest that long-term exposure to O<sub>3</sub>, especially in combination with PM<sub>2.5</sub> exposure, is associated with an excess risk of lung cancer mortality, underscoring the importance of addressing the O<sub>3</sub> and PM<sub>2.5</sub> interaction in lung cancer prevention.","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"7 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143862820","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Synergistic Effects of Surfactant Biostimulation and Indigenous Fungal Bioaugmentation for Enhanced Bioremediation of PAH-Contaminated Soils","authors":"Yeliang Dai, Xixi Cai, Shuang Wang, Chunxia Zhao, Xiyu Wang, Xiumin Yang, Xuan Zhao, Xianghui Cheng, Jibing Li, Chunling Luo, Gan Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126304","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126304","url":null,"abstract":"Surfactant biostimulation and autochthonous fungal bioaugmentation have emerged as promising strategies for the bioremediation of soils contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). However, the mechanisms driving their combined effects remain poorly understood. This study investigates the degradation mechanisms associated with bioaugmentation using the indigenous fungus <em>Aspergillus fumigatus</em> LJD-29 and surfactant Tween 80. By employing stable-isotope probing and high-throughput sequencing, we comprehensively assessed these processes. In our study, the results demonstrate that both <em>Aspergillus fumigatus</em> LJD-29 and Tween 80 significantly enhanced the degradation efficiency of phenanthrene and modified the microbial community composition, particularly among active degraders. Extracellular enzymes were identified as key players in the phenanthrene transformation process. Tween 80 improved the bioavailability of phenanthrene, stimulating the growth of native PAH degraders, with <em>Pseudonocardia</em> emerging as a prominent genus. Although the combined surfactant-fungal treatment did not substantially increase terminal degradation efficiency due to limitations in phenanthrene bioavailability, it accelerated the degradation rate. Additionally, Tween 80 helped restore the microbial community structure disrupted by fungal bioaugmentation. These findings provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of surfactant biostimulation and indigenous fungal bioaugmentation, highlighting the potential of this integrated bioremediation strategy for managing PAH-contaminated soils.","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"32 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143862822","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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}
Yingyi Dai , Qin Li , Yongxian Li , Si Zhou , Xiaotong Li , Chongshan Guo , Jun Yuan , Lei Tan
{"title":"Association of organophosphate flame retardants exposure with liver function and the contrasting mediating roles of inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways","authors":"Yingyi Dai , Qin Li , Yongxian Li , Si Zhou , Xiaotong Li , Chongshan Guo , Jun Yuan , Lei Tan","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126300","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126300","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) have been widely used as alternatives to traditional halogenated flame retardants, resulting in their pervasive environmental presence and significant human exposure. While animal studies using high doses of individual OPFRs have demonstrated hepatotoxicity, evidence of hepatic effects from chronic and low-dose exposure to OPFRs in humans is scarce, and the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. In this study, we evaluated the association between urinary metabolites of OPFRs (mOPFRs) and liver function biomarkers in a population aged 1–79 years from the Guangzhou Human Biomonitoring Program. Urinary concentrations of diphenyl phosphate exhibited a significant decreasing trend with increasing age across four age groups (≤12, 13–17, 17–59, ≥60 years), while bis(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate concentrations showed a significant positive association with age. Urinary mOPFRs were positively associated with alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, and aspartate aminotransferase, and negatively associated with indirect bilirubin levels. Urinary mOPFRs were significantly correlated with total bilirubin, which was consistent with that observed in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database, while other associations were inconsistent. Moreover, we evaluated the roles of inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in the association between urinary mOPFRs and liver function biomarkers by mediation analysis. The results demonstrated that the mediation effects of inflammatory markers were consistent with the total and direct effects of mOPFRs on liver function biomarkers, whereas the mediation effects of oxidative stress markers were discrepant. Inflammation likely exacerbates the adverse effects of OPFRs on liver function, while oxidative stress may play a protective role. We further searched the comparative toxicogenomics database for genes associated with OPFRs and liver function biomarkers to understand the potential regulatory mechanisms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"375 ","pages":"Article 126300"},"PeriodicalIF":7.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143862815","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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}