Environmental Pollution最新文献

{"title":"Elucidating the enzymatic response of the white rot basidiomycete Abortiporus biennis for the downgrade of polystyrene","authors":"George Taxeidis, Romanos Siaperas, Katerina Foka, Marijana Ponjavic, Jasmina Nikodinovic-Runic, Anastasia Zerva, Evangelos Topakas","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126214","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126214","url":null,"abstract":"Plastic pollution is a growing global environmental concern, with polyolefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, as well as polystyrene (PS) constituting a significant amount of plastic waste. Both polyolefins and PS, when inappropriately disposed of in the environment, contribute to environmental contamination since they degrade slowly, with both abiotic and biotic factors contributing to their downgrade. In terms of the microbial effect on plastics, in recent decades, several studies have focused on the biodeterioration and assimilation of polyolefins, while more comprehensive degradation of PS by diverse organisms, including bacteria, fungi, and even insect larvae, has been documented. The present study investigates the biocatalytic potential of the white-rot basidiomycete <em>Abortiporus biennis</em> LGAM 436 for PS degradation. Building on prior research, we examined the ability of this fungal strain to modify the structure of different PS forms, including commercial expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam and amorphous PS film. In addition, we explored the impact of olive oil mill wastewater (OOMW) effluent as an enzymatic inducer to enhance the degradation process. Through gel permeation chromatography (GPC), surface morphology changes, and FTIR-ATR analysis, we assessed the extent of PS degradation and identified relevant enzymatic activities via proteomics. The findings offer insights into the discovery of novel fungal biocatalysts for addressing plastic pollution, particularly through the action of high-redox oxidative enzymes.","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"17 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143782808","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":"Land-Ocean export of microplastic in Central Chile: The contribution of the Biobío River using a particle tracking model approach.","authors":"Tatiana Recabarren, Mariett Torres, Camila Jacobsen, Katerine Pozo, Lautaro Girones, Andrés Arias, Roberto Urrutia, Guozhu Ye, Petra Pribylova, Jana Klanova, Ramon Ahumada, Karla Pozo","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126196","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126196","url":null,"abstract":"Microplastic (MPs) pollution is a global concern that affects all environments. Rivers have been identified as a major transport route for MPs from land to oceans. In this context, we evaluated the MP contribution from the Biobío River, one of the most important rivers in Chile, to the ocean. MPs were collected from superficial water throughout the entire Biobío River basin (and its tributaries) during the summer and winter of 2022. The samples were physically (color, size, and shape) and chemically (polymeric composition) analyzed using a microscope, a Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer, and a micro-FTIR. Results showed evident seasonal variations, with a significant increase (∼20 times average) in microplastic concentration (particles/day) in winter (7x10⁵-1x10⁸) compared to summer (4x10³-7x10⁵). Fibers were the dominant morphology with polyethylene terephthalate (PET; 20-40%) and polypropylene (PP; 20-50%) as the most abundant polymers. The river downstream showed the highest sample particle diversity (e.g., size, color, and polymeric composition). The river’s behavior suggests a main role as a “Reservoir”, corresponding to ∼ 40-50% retention of microplastic in the midstream of the Biobío River. Furthermore, a preliminary evaluation using the OpenDrift model, indicated that particles coming from the Biobío River were mainly stranded on the Gulf of Arauco coast (≈100%), suggesting a potential accumulation zone. This study contributes crucial information to understanding the behavior of plastic pollution in freshwater courses and its likely impacts on the coastal environments.","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"108 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143776079","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":"Exposure to Polyoxyethylene Tallow Amines (POEAs), Glyphosate Co-Formulation Surfactants, in a US Pregnant Population and their Potential Endocrine Disrupting Effects.","authors":"Bushra Amreen, Corina Lesseur, Ravikumar Jagani, Shirisha Yelamanchili, Emily S. Barrett, Ruby H.N. Nguyen, Sheela Sathyanarayana, Shanna H. Swan, Syam S. Andra, Jia Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126205","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126205","url":null,"abstract":"Emerging but inconsistent evidence suggests that glyphosate (GLY)-based herbicides (GBHs) are more toxic than the active ingredient, GLY alone. Polyoxyethylene tallow amines (POEAs) are surfactants most widely used in GBH formulations, making up to 5-15% by weight. However, neither POEA exposure nor their toxicity has been well studied in the general population. This study leverages second trimester urine samples collected from 86 pregnant participants of a multi-center, US-based pregnancy cohort. We measured three POEA homologs, i.e., C₁₆s(EO)₂, C₁₈u(EO)₂, and C₁₈s(EO)₂, using an ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-tandem with mass spectrometry. These homologs were detected in 79%, 97%, and 59% of the samples (LOD: 0.1 ng/mL) at a mean concentration of 1.87, 1.88, and 1.65 ng/mL, respectively. While these homologs were highly correlated with each other (rho &gt; 0.7), their correlations with GLY and its breakdown product, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), were moderate (rho &lt; 0.4). Compared to Blacks and other races, the POEA level in urine was the lowest in White participants (<em>p</em> = 0.047). We observed an indication that a higher POEA level was associated with increased ano-genital distance (AGD), a marker of gestational androgen milieu, in male infants only (β=2.46, <em>p</em>=0.057); such relationship remained unchanged after adjusting for GLY (β=2.45, <em>p</em>=0.055) or AMPA (β=2.46, <em>p</em>=0.058). Despite the small sample size, our study provides the first population data on POEA exposure which demonstrates widespread exposure in the general population. Suggestive associations between urinary POEA and AGD in male newborns implicate potential endocrine disrupting property of POEA, which warrant further investigation in larger studies.","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"29 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143776082","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":"Pesticide contamination in indoor home dust: A pilot study of non-occupational exposure in Argentina","authors":"Virginia Aparicio ,&nbsp;Jessica Kaseker ,&nbsp;Paul T.J. Scheepers ,&nbsp;Abdallah Alaoui ,&nbsp;Daniel M. Figueiredo ,&nbsp;Hans Mol ,&nbsp;Vera Silva ,&nbsp;Paula Harkes ,&nbsp;Danilo Rheinheimer Dos Santos ,&nbsp;Violette Geissen ,&nbsp;José Luis Costa","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126208","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126208","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Agricultural use of pesticides continues to rise globally. Argentina ranks fifth in use. While pesticides help yields, they also pose risks to human health and the environment. Indoor dust can present high pesticide concentrations, raising concerns about chronic exposure in non-farming households. Studies of pesticides in indoor dust are few worldwide. This pioneering study aimed to identify and/or quantify for the first time pesticide occurrence in indoor dust from urban residences in the Pampas Region, southeast of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Pesticide residues in indoor dust from 48 non-agricultural homes in the Pampas plain region were analysed. Study participants completed questionnaires on household demographics, pet ownership, pesticide use, gardening, and habits like leaving shoes outside. We detected 41 out of 49 targeted pesticides, including metabolites and banned compounds. Seven of the 49 tested are dual-use compounds (i.e. pesticide &amp; biocide or veterinary applications). The synergist piperonyl butoxide, the dual-use imidacloprid, and “agricultural only” pesticides carbaryl, glyphosate, and atrazine were detected in all dust samples. Glyphosate, 2,4-D, atrazine, imidacloprid, carbaryl, tetramethrin, and piperonyl butoxide had maximum concentrations exceeding 1, 000 μg kg⁻¹. Complex mixtures of up to 32 residues were found per sample. Questionnaire responses revealed that most participants brought shoes inside (60 %), almost all had pets (93 %), and 51 % had used flea repellents (mainly imidacloprid and fipronil). Approximately 48 % reported pesticide use in the past year, and 19 % reported exposure via their (non-farmer) jobs, e.g., via disinfection and weeding. These findings highlight the prevalence of pesticide residues in residential settings and the need for further research on long-term exposure and risks. Improved tracking of agricultural, household, and mixed-use pesticide applications is crucial, particularly in regions heavily reliant on agriculture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"373 ","pages":"Article 126208"},"PeriodicalIF":7.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143776080","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":"PFOS Exposure Impairs Porcine Oocyte Maturation and Embryo Development via Mitochondria-Dependent Ferroptosis","authors":"Xiaoqing Sun, Ran Teng, Ning Xu, Yutong Sun, Enbo Zhang, Xingfu Chen, Qing Guo, Suo Li","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126185","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126185","url":null,"abstract":"Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is a widely utilized chemical known for its exceptional environmental stability over extended periods, its significant potential to bioaccumulate in living organisms, and its considerable risks to both health and the environment. Several studies have suggested that PFOS may pose reproductive risks in mammals; however, the exact mechanisms driving these effects are not well understood. In this study, we explored the possible mechanisms by which PFOS toxicity affects the maturation of mammalian oocytes and the embryonic development employing porcine oocytes as a model system. SMART-seq results suggested that PFOS may affect oocyte maturation through mechanisms involving ferroptosis, autophagy, and alterations in membrane structure. Our results suggest that PFOS exposure adversely affects mitochondrial function and structure, thereby influencing peroxisome biogenesis and contributing to oxidative stress. Most importantly, we found that exposure to PFOS significantly elevated Fe²⁺ levels, an indicator associated with ferroptosis in oocytes. Furthermore, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the PFOS group were significantly higher than those in the control group. Additionally, the mRNA expression levels of <em>PCBP1</em> and <em>PCBP2</em>, which are related to ferroptosis, as well as the expression level of P53, were significantly reduced in the PFOS group. Overall, exposure to PFOS in vitro results in mitochondrial damage in porcine oocytes, which induces lipid peroxidation and subsequently leads to the occurrence of ferroptosis.","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"108 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143782809","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":"Physiological and behavioural responses of aquatic organisms to microplastics and experimental warming","authors":"Danielle J. Marchant, Daniel M. Perkins, J. Iwan Jones, Pavel Kratina","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126182","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126182","url":null,"abstract":"Microplastics are an emerging contaminant of concern because of their potential to cause harm to aquatic biota, such as reproduction, growth, and survival, and there is a lack of knowledge about how microplastics can affect other sub-lethal responses, such as movement behaviour and respiration rates, which may have consequences for species interactions. Additionally, there is little evidence for the effects of microplastics under different climate warming scenarios. To address this knowledge gap, the effects of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) microplastics, in combination with different constant temperature regimes (10°C, 15°C, and 20°C) and a fluctuating regime (10 - 20°C over a 24h diel cycle) on the respiration rates, feeding rates, and movement speeds of <em>Gammarus pulex</em> and <em>Asellus aquaticus</em> were assessed. Respiration rates of <em>G. pulex</em> increased with temperature according to metabolic theory, but there was no evidence for increased respiration rates of <em>A. aquaticus</em> at higher temperatures. Overall, the respiration rates and movement speeds of <em>G. pulex</em> were higher than <em>A. aquaticus</em> but there was no evidence that microplastics independently, or in combination with experimental warming, influenced any of the responses tested. There is increasing evidence that some microplastic particles may not be harmful to aquatic biota, and the findings presented in this study indicated that further evidence about the effects of different microplastic types, in combination with other human-induced pressures, is required to better understand the hazards and risks associated with microplastic particles in the environment.","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"29 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143776081","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":"The role of atmospheric volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in ozone formation around China's largest plywood manufacturer","authors":"Ningjie Li ,&nbsp;Ting Sun ,&nbsp;Stephen Mudge ,&nbsp;Yuanxun Zhang ,&nbsp;Zhenhui Gao ,&nbsp;Lihui Huang ,&nbsp;Jianing Lin","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126197","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126197","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a dominant contributor to the formation of ozone (O₃) in Linyi, the plywood capital of China. However, the temporal variations and source origins of VOCs in Linyi remain unclear. This study gathered ambient air samples (n = 214) from the urban center of Linyi during the period April to October of 2021–2023. The total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) concentrations ranged from 28 ppbv to 32 ppbv with oxygenated volatile organic compounds (OVOCs) taking the large portion (50.76 %) of TVOCs, followed by alkanes (28.11 %), aromatics (13.71 %), alkenes (6.66 %), and alkynes (0.76 %). The OVOCs (44.10 %) were the dominant contributors to ozone formation potential (OFP). Formaldehyde, an OVOC and particular pollutant from plywood industries contributed the most to OFP (∼21.60 %). The average concentration of TVOCs in 2022 was the lowest (28.61 ± 10.76 ppbv), with VOCs species, such as isobutane and propane having the lowest concentrations in 2022 (p &lt; 0.05), reflecting a decrease in transportation activity due to the impacts of pandemic lockdowns. Concentrations of OVOCs were annually increasing because of the annual growth of plywood yield. The TVOCs and OVOCs levels were significantly correlated to O₃ levels (p &lt; 0.01). The concentrations of TVOCs and OVOCs as well as O₃ were highest in June and September (p &lt; 0.05), when the temperature and the degree of photochemical reactions were high. The source apportionment analysis found that plywood industries were the main source (32.90 %) of TVOCs, followed by liquefied petroleum gas (LPG, 21.32 %). Trajectory statistical models (TSM) analysis suggested that Linyi is greatly affected by regional transport from the southwest (31.63 %). This study provides new insights into the mitigation and management of VOCs and O₃ pollution in plywood industry cities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"373 ","pages":"Article 126197"},"PeriodicalIF":7.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143776083","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":"Antagonism or synergism? Contrasting toxicity mechanisms of combined antibiotic and metal pollution on Eisenia fetida","authors":"Qiuyun Xu ,&nbsp;Xin Xiong ,&nbsp;Yajuan Shi ,&nbsp;Li Qian ,&nbsp;Xuan Zhou ,&nbsp;Xueli Tian ,&nbsp;Jinyang Yu ,&nbsp;Liuxuan Fang","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126166","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126166","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The pervasive occurrence of combined metal and antibiotic pollution (CMAP) in agricultural soils is increasingly being recognized as a novel threat to ecosystems. However, the toxicity variations of CMAP compared to single pollution and the mechanisms underlying these changes remain poorly understood. Herein in this study, the toxicities of copper (Cu)/erythromycin (ERY) and lead (Pb)/norfloxacin (NOR) to earthworms (<em>Eisenia fetida</em>) were investigated. These results indicated that a single exposure to ERY and NOR at environmental concentrations had negligible effects on physiological processes. Combined Cu/ERY exposure induced more significant oxidative stress, disrupted energy metabolism, and caused cellular damage than Cu alone, as indicated by altered antioxidant enzyme activities, malondialdehyde and adenosine triphosphate content, elevated reactive oxygen species levels, and apoptosis rates in coelomocytes. Conversely, these adverse effects were mitigated by Pb/NOR exposure compared to Pb treatment alone. Further analysis of the gut microbiota revealed that Cu/Pb-tolerant <em>Bacillus</em> spp. play a critical mediating role in the contrasting toxicity profiles. ERY reduced the abundance of <em>Bacillus</em> spp., diminishing their ability to secrete soluble phosphate to immobilize Cu in the gut and leading to increased Cu absorption and toxicity. NOR enriches <em>Bacillus</em> spp. in the gut, facilitating Pb immobilization and reducing Pb bioavailability and toxicity. The contrast toxicity profile revealed the response of the gut microbiota taxa is the primary determinant of the variation in CMAP toxicity. These findings advance our understanding of the impact of CMAP on soil organisms and highlight the need for comprehensive ecological risk assessments to inform regulatory strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"374 ","pages":"Article 126166"},"PeriodicalIF":7.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143766551","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":"Modelling Escherichia coli concentrations: 45.6 %–78.1 % of China's rivers show poor microbial water quality","authors":"Songtao Mei ,&nbsp;Kai Wang ,&nbsp;Heike Schmitt ,&nbsp;Nynke Hofstra","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126184","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126184","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Water quality is under threat due to the presence of pathogenic and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. <em>Escherichia coli</em> (<em>E. coli</em>) serves as an indicator of faecal contamination and the potential presence of other harmful pathogens. Understanding <em>E. coli</em> concentrations helps in assessing the overall health risks associated with waterborne diseases and developing effective water management strategies. Therefore, we developed the first large-scale model, GloWPa-Ecoli C1 to simulate <em>E. coli</em> loads and concentrations in rivers and apply this model to China. The model provides the first comprehensive overview of microbial water quality across China's rivers. The model simulates <em>E. coli</em> concentrations in 2020 to range from 10^−1.2 to 10^6.3 CFU/L, with 45.6 %–78.1 % of rivers exhibiting poor microbial water quality. Major hotspots of <em>E. coli</em> pollution are Haihe, Huaihe and Pearl River Basins. Direct discharge of human faecal waste contributes 80.2 % of the total <em>E. coli</em> load, while directly discharged livestock waste accounts for 13.1 %. To mitigate <em>E. coli</em> pollution in rivers in China, we recommend increasing human faecal waste collection rates, expanding wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) coverage, phasing out primary treatment WWTPs and eliminating direct livestock faecal waste discharge, particularly from smallholder farms. The study underscores the urgent need to improve microbial water quality in China's rivers. The findings provide actionable insights to inform policy development aimed at safeguarding water quality and public health. Furthermore, the modelling approach is applicable to other regions and microorganisms, offering a foundation for developing models to address antibiotic-resistant bacteria and other emerging water quality challenges.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"374 ","pages":"Article 126184"},"PeriodicalIF":7.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143776043","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":"Effects of polystyrene microparticles exposures on spermatogenic cell differentiation and reproductive endpoints in male mice","authors":"Rong Shen ,&nbsp;Peng Xia ,&nbsp;Yanan Guo ,&nbsp;Pengfei Ji ,&nbsp;Xinyi Yuan ,&nbsp;Lu Wang ,&nbsp;Si Shuang ,&nbsp;Liwei Zhou ,&nbsp;Ruizhi Tong ,&nbsp;Lijuan Zhang ,&nbsp;Disheng Liu ,&nbsp;Degui Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126200","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126200","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The widespread distribution of microplastics in the environment has raised concerns about their potential implications for human health. Microplastics accumulate in animals and humans, but the risks associated with these pollutants are not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the effects of polystyrene microplastics on the male reproductive system. The 0.1 μm polystyrene (PS) could accumulate in the testicular tissue and spermatogonia GC-1, while 1 μm PS was not easy to enter and accumulate in the testicular tissue and cells. Mice continuously exposed for 3-months to 0.1 μm PS demonstrated lower fertility and inhibited spermatogonium differentiation compared to control mice. The 0.1 μm PS were dispersed throughout the seminiferous tubule of the testis. Metabolic reprogramming was found to be involved in these processes. Histone methylation and autophagy-related pathways showed significant differences following PS treatment in testis tissue and GC-1 cells. Our findings suggest that chronic exposure to 0.1 μm PS inhibited spermatogenic cell differentiation and impaired fertility in male mice. We propose that abnormal epigenetic modifications in 0.1 μm PS exposed mice contributed to the dysregulation of glycolytic enzymes, and that the impaired autophagic pathway exacerbated the accumulation of glycolytic enzymes further. Glycolysis plays a critical role in the regulation of spermatogenic cell differentiation, and its regulation partially alleviated the impairments associated with PS exposure. In conclusion, our findings suggest that chronic exposure to nanoplastics PS inhibited spermatogenic cell differentiation and impaired fertility in male mice via disrupted epigenetic modification and metabolic dysregulation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"373 ","pages":"Article 126200"},"PeriodicalIF":7.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143766601","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}