Environmental Pollution最新文献

{"title":"A new insight of volatile organic compounds measurement in Kunming City, Southwest China: season variation, chemical characteristics, and ozone formation sensitivity","authors":"Jianwu Shi ,&nbsp;Rui Zhang ,&nbsp;Feng Jiang ,&nbsp;Feng Xiang ,&nbsp;Yaoqian Zhong ,&nbsp;Xinyu Han ,&nbsp;Senlin Tian ,&nbsp;Ping Ning","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127158","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127158","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As a typical border city in Southwest China, Kunming exhibited different characteristics of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and ozone (O₃) in dry and rainy seasons, influenced by anthropogenic activities, meteorological conditions, and regional transport. The concentration of VOCs during the dry season (45.2 ± 16.8 μg/m³) was significantly higher than that in the rainy season (28.2 ± 14.3 μg/m³). The anthropogenic volatile organic compounds (AVOC) were predominantly composed of alkanes and aromatics, with motor vehicle emissions being the primary source (39.7 %–42.5 %). High temperatures (above 20 °C) and low relative humidity (below 70 %) facilitated O₃ formation. During the dry season, air masses from the southwest of Yunnan accounted for 81.7 % (with 32.3 % originating from Myanmar), and the concentration contributions of VOCs and O₃ in this direction exceeded 30 μg/m³ and 120 μg/m³, respectively. In contrast, air masses during the rainy season originated mainly from local and southern Yunnan (87.6 %). The ozone formation potential (OFP) was recorded at 137.7 μg/m³ during the dry season and 93.9 μg/m³ in the rainy season, with the rate of loss of hydroxyl radicals (LOH) at 5.0/s and 4.5/s, respectively. Furthermore, O₃ formation in Kunming was limited by VOCs, and reducing O₃ emissions was more effective when accompanied by a reduction in VOCs rather than NOx. When VOCs reductions exceed 25 %, the reduction ratio of NOx must be increased concurrently. This study provides significant guidance for controlling air pollution and ozone generation in Kunming and other border cities in Southwest China.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"386 ","pages":"Article 127158"},"PeriodicalIF":7.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145116275","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":"Combined Effect of Microplastics and Tire Particles on Daphnia magna: Insights from Physiological and Transcriptomic Responses","authors":"Kimleng Keang, Sovannlaksmy Sorn, Shuo Cheng, Snehal Wasnik, Haoge Zhang, Jeffrey S. Cross","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127141","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127141","url":null,"abstract":"Microplastics (MPs) and tire particles (TP) are ubiquitous in freshwater ecosystems, raising growing concerns about their ecological impacts. However, limited studies have explored their combined effects. This study investigates the physiological and transcriptomic responses of <em>Daphnia magna</em> to environmentally relevant concentrations (1 and 5 mg/L) of MPs, TP, and their mixture (Mix-MPsTP). Microscopic analyses confirmed particle ingestion and accumulation in the gut, with greater retention observed at the lower concentration, suggesting a non-linear dose-response possibly driven by particle aggregation or avoidance behavior. Oxidative stress biomarkers revealed significant elevation in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, particularly in the Mix-MPsTP 1 mg/L group, while catalase (CAT) activity was suppressed at higher doses. Despite ROS induction, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels remained unchanged, indicating successful mitigation of lipid peroxidation. Transcriptomic data aligned with physiological findings, showing upregulation of antioxidant-related genes such as peroxidases, cytochrome b5, and endochitinase A, along with metabolic genes like vitellogenin-2 and C-reactive protein. While glycogen levels were significantly affected, protein content remained unchanged, implying preserved metabolic stability under short-term stress. Importantly, this study fills a critical knowledge gap, as no prior research has comprehensively examined the mixture effects of different MPs, TP, and Mix-MPsTP on aquatic organisms. The results highlight the complexity of pollutant interactions and underscore the need for mixture-based assessments in ecotoxicological research and risk management strategies.","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"24 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145116273","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":"Children's exposure to mycotoxins and risk characterization using urinary biomarkers in São Paulo, Brazil","authors":"Sher Ali ,&nbsp;Bruna Battaglini Franco ,&nbsp;Vanessa Theodoro Rezende ,&nbsp;Sana Ullah ,&nbsp;Nida Wahab ,&nbsp;Lucas Gabriel Dionisio Freire ,&nbsp;Roice Eliana Rosim ,&nbsp;Fernando Gustavo Tonin ,&nbsp;Carlos Humberto Corassin ,&nbsp;Luiz Antonio Del Ciampo ,&nbsp;Ivan Savioli Ferraz ,&nbsp;Carlos Augusto Fernandes de Oliveira","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127160","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127160","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study assessed mycotoxin exposure of preschoolers (3–6 years, <em>n</em> = 26), schoolers (7–10 years, <em>n</em> = 29), and adolescents (11–17 years, <em>n</em> = 49) from São Paulo, Brazil, by analyzing mycotoxin biomarkers in urine samples. Analyses were performed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), for determination of aflatoxin M₁ (AFM₁), ochratoxin A (OTA), fumonisins B₁ (FB₁) and B₂ (FB₂), deoxynivalenol (DON), T-2 and HT-2 toxins, zearalenone (ZEN) and its metabolites α- and β-zearalenol (ZEL). Urinary ZEN and its metabolites (α- and β-ZEL) were the most frequently detected biomarkers, followed by FBs (FB₁+FB₂), DON, and OTA. Co-exposure to 2–6 mycotoxins was observed in 63 % of samples, most prominently among schoolers (69 %), followed by adolescents (63 %) and preschoolers (61 %). Estimated daily intake (EDI) values were calculated under lower (LB), middle (MB), and upper bound (UB) scenarios. Several 95th percentile UB-EDI values exceeded maximum level (ML) or tolerable daily intake (TDI) limits, particularly for preschoolers regarding exposure to AFM₁ (EDI: 0.786 μg/kg body weight (bw)/day), FBs (EDI: 5.22 μg/kg bw/day), OTA (EDI: 0.683 μg/kg bw/day) and the sum of ZEN, α- and β-ZEL (ZENeq) (0.92 μg/kg bw/day). Under the UB scenario, hazard quotient (HQ) values &gt; 1 were found for OTA in 100 % of preschoolers (median: 1.71) and schoolers (1.4), and ZENeq in about 77 % of preschoolers (median: 1.14). Margin of exposure (MoE) values for AFM₁ were &lt;10,000 across all age groups, indicating potential carcinogenic concern. These results underscore substantial real-life co-exposure to multiple mycotoxins in children in Brazil, reinforcing the need for age-specific surveillance and risk management strategies. The detection of multiple toxins above safety thresholds highlights the vulnerability of this population and the importance of strengthened food safety policies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"385 ","pages":"Article 127160"},"PeriodicalIF":7.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145116278","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":"Route-dependent toxicodynamics of 6PPD-quinone in mussels: Mechanical resilience trades off with subcellular injury and metabolic disruption","authors":"Yiming Gao ,&nbsp;Menghong Hu ,&nbsp;Peng Xu ,&nbsp;Jae-Seong Lee ,&nbsp;Khor Waiho ,&nbsp;James Kar-Hei Fang ,&nbsp;Youji Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127152","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127152","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The byssal thread, a mussel-secreted proteinaceous anchor critical for underwater adhesion, represents a vital adaptation for survival in dynamic marine environments but faces vulnerability to pollutants. This study examines how the tire-derived contaminant 6PPD-quinone (6PPD-Q) impacts the byssal defense system of <em>Mytilus coruscus</em> via waterborne and dietary exposure. Experiments evaluated byssal production, mechanical traits, foot histology, and transcriptomic profiles. Waterborne 6PPD-Q induced a paradoxical enhancement: increased thread count/diameter and adhesion strength coexisted with progressive foot tissue damage, evidenced by histopathology and dysregulated ribosomal/DNA repair pathways. Dietary exposure, conversely, disrupted nutrient metabolism and immune responses, with transcriptomes diverging sharply from waterborne cases. KEGG analysis revealed route-specific toxicity: waterborne exposure activated nuclear DNA damage pathways, while dietary exposure triggered lysosomal/antigen-processing mechanisms. Solvent controls confirmed 6PPD-Q specificity. These findings unveil a dual paradox where 6PPD-Q simultaneously enhances mechanical resilience and inflicts subcellular harm, with toxicodynamics governed by exposure route. The trade-off between structural fortification and physiological impairment highlights complex pollutant interactions in mussels, emphasizing the need for exposure pathway-specific assessments in managing aquaculture sustainability amid coastal contamination. This work advances understanding of anthropogenic pollutant impacts on marine bivalve adaptive strategies and ecosystem health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"385 ","pages":"Article 127152"},"PeriodicalIF":7.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145127858","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":"Mining driven pollution impact on ecosystem health and its retrieval through green technology: A nature based sustainable solution","authors":"Zeeshan Ahmad, Jiangbo Rao, Wenfu Zhang, Guorui Xu, Guangtao Meng, Jiahua Li, Shujaul Mulk Khan, Yang Jie","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127154","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127154","url":null,"abstract":"Green technology provides an effective solution to mitigate environmental pollution. This study aims to assess the ecological impact of lead-zinc, limestone and manganese mining polluted ecosystems and examines the phytoremediation ability of selected dominant plant species in Southwest Yunnan, China. Soil and vegetation data were collected from 161 polluted and non-polluted sites. The potential toxic elements (PTEs) were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Ecological risk assessment identified that the Mn, Pb, Zn, Ni, Cu, Co, Cr, Tl and Cd were the most significant contributors to environmental pollution. The structural equation modeling shows that increasing plant species abundance significantly decreases ecological risks (β= -0.73) associated with PTEs. The phytoremediation assessment identified <em>Eremochloa ciliaris</em> as a hyperaccumulator for Cd, Cr, Cu and Ni. While, <em>Engelhardia roxburghiana</em> and <em>Leucosceptrum canum</em> showed significant hyperaccumulation ability for Cd and Ni, respectively. <em>Boehmeria clidemioides</em> was recorded as a phytoextractor of (Ni, Hg, V, Cd, Cu), <em>Macaranga pustulata</em> (Zn, Pb, Cd, Hg), and <em>Helicteres angustifolia</em> (Hg, Pb, Cu, Cd, Zn) in the mining polluted ecosystems. The mixed effect model further confirmed a significant positive relationship between plant abundance with Pb, Zn, Mn and Cd. It is concluded that the identified dominant species offer an effective solution for the phytoremediation of mining polluted systems to manage PTEs contamination and rehabilitate the polluted ecosystems in a sustainable way.","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"74 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145116276","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":"Disentangling the anthropogenic and environmental correlates of microplastic pollution in the coastal waters of a metropolis in Southern China","authors":"Pengfei Wu ,&nbsp;Yu Zhao ,&nbsp;Ngai Kwan Chan ,&nbsp;Jian-Wen Qiu ,&nbsp;Zongwei Cai","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127150","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127150","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microplastics are widely recognized as significant marine pollutants with health implications, yet their abundance patterns, sources, and environmental determinants remain unknown in many regions. In this study, we surveyed 31 sites to assess the status of microplastic pollution in the surface waters of Hong Kong, one of the most densely populated cities in Southern China. Microplastics (20 μm–5 mm) were detected at all survey sites, with abundances ranging from 29 to 2.7 items/L (mean: 14.4 ± 8.6 items/L) along an estuary-to-ocean gradient. The highest abundances were observed in the western estuarine sites, which receive substantial river runoff, and within Victoria Harbour, which receives effluents from a major sewage treatment plant. Low-density polymers such as polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) were predominant, while high-density polymers like polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were less abundant, except near sewage outfalls in Victoria Harbour. High concentrations of polystyrene (PS) in Deep Bay, an oyster culture area, suggest that Styrofoam used in local oyster culture rafts is a potential pollution source. Multivariate analyses indicate that microplastic pollution in Hong Kong is influenced by local environmental factors, with four environmental proxies—salinity, chlorophyll a, <em>E. coli</em>, and total inorganic nitrogen—accounting for a significant portion of the spatial pattern in microplastic abundance. Overall, our study disentangles the complex influences of the Pearl River and local human activities on the abundance and distribution of microplastics in Hong Kong waters, highlighting the complexity of tracing the sources of these pollutants.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"385 ","pages":"Article 127150"},"PeriodicalIF":7.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145103809","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":"Selective enrichment of microbial community and functions in the plastisphere under vanadium pressures from a tailing pond ecosystem","authors":"Dandan Huang ,&nbsp;Jiaxin Shi ,&nbsp;Xinyue Zhang ,&nbsp;Ziqi Liu ,&nbsp;Baogang Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127153","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127153","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Vanadium mining leads to increasing environmental release of vanadium, posing ecological and health risks. are a recognized source of microplastic pollution, making tailings ponds emerging hotspots for microplastic and vanadium coexistence. Vanadium adsorption alters the physicochemical properties of microplastic surfaces, affecting plastisphere microbiome composition and function. It remains unclear how the plastisphere microbiome responds to vanadium stress and the resulting ecological risks. This study aims to investigate the selective enrichment of microbial communities and functions within the plastisphere of tailings pond adjacent to a large-scale vanadium mine. The results reveal plastisphere assemblages with lower diversity but higher functional specialization than surrounding matrices, enriched in vanadium resistant and plastic degrading taxa (<em>Streptomyces</em>, <em>Hydrogenophaga</em> and <em>Delftia</em>). Deterministic processes dominated plastisphere community assembly, driven by environmental filtering from vanadium and co-occurring metals. Functional profiling indicated enhanced aromatic compound degradation and potential pathogenicity genes in the plastisphere, whereas the sediment plastisphere exhibited reduced nitrogen cycling functions, suggesting altered biogeochemical processes and ecological risks. Our findings underscore the scientific value of the plastisphere as a unique ecological niche that reshapes microbial functions, highlighting its critical role in assessing the ecological risks of mining pollution and informing targeted bioremediation strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"385 ","pages":"Article 127153"},"PeriodicalIF":7.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145103808","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":"Lung hazards of microplastics and their toxicological mechanisms","authors":"Yurong Huang ,&nbsp;Peng Shang ,&nbsp;Ying Li ,&nbsp;Yajing Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127149","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127149","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microplastics (MPs), as ubiquitous environmental pollutants, pose significant risks to pulmonary health through inhalation exposure. Due to their small size, large surface area, and high permeability, MPs evade respiratory clearance mechanisms upon entering the airways and deposit in the lungs, triggering a range of multifaceted toxicological effects. Drawing upon extensive research, this review summarizes eight key mechanisms by which MPs induce lung injury including (1) Oxidative stress: MPs promote the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), disrupting pulmonary antioxidant defenses and damaging cellular macromolecules; (2) Inflammatory response: MPs induce inflammatory cell infiltration and upregulate pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-6, TNF-α), leading to pulmonary inflammation; (3) Apoptosis and autophagy: MPs trigger apoptosis and autophagy in lung cells, with their interplay exacerbating pulmonary tissue damage; (4) Microbial dysbiosis: MPs alter the lung microbiota, aggravating immune dysfunction; (5) Lung surfactant inhibition: MPs adsorb proteins and other components of lung surfactant, impairing alveolar structure and function; (6) Suppressed cell proliferation: MPs hinder lung cell repair, worsening tissue injury; (7) Pulmonary fibrosis: chronic MPs exposure induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), promoting collagen deposition and scar formation; (8) Synergistic toxicity: MPs adsorb co-pollutants (e.g., heavy metals), amplifying lung injury. Prolonged MPs exposure is associated with pneumoconiosis, asthma, and lung cancer. Despite the insights gained into the mechanisms of MPs on lung injury, the effects and exact mechanisms of long-term exposure to MPs on lung disease remain unclear, and further research into their causes is the need of time.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"385 ","pages":"Article 127149"},"PeriodicalIF":7.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145103713","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":"Caddisfly larvae (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae) facilitate the uptake of microplastics by a freshwater fish (Ameiurus nebulosus)","authors":"Hélène Pfister, Geneviève D’Avignon, Aimy Wang, Miguel Eduardo L. Felismino, Anthony Ricciardi","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127133","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127133","url":null,"abstract":"Microplastics are pervasive in inland waters and are entering aquatic food webs through diverse pathways. Caddisflies (Trichoptera) are common prey items for fishes and some aquatic birds; they have been found to incorporate microplastic particles in their larval cases, which are a potential vector of plastic transmission to higher trophic levels. We examined this novel pathway in two sets of experiments. First, we exposed caseless <em>Limnephilus</em> larvae to either i) a 50% mixture of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microfragments and natural materials, or ii) 100% natural materials, and compared their subsequent case construction. <em>Limnephilus</em> consistently incorporated PET into their cases, even when natural material was available. However, only 5% of larvae constructed a case completely covering the abdominal region of their body when they used PET fragments. Cases incorporating plastic had a lower mass than those constructed entirely from natural materials, regardless of the mass of the larvae. These findings suggest that the incorporation of microplastics affects case structure and, potentially, functionality. In a subsequent set of experiments, we offered four partially plastic-cased and four natural-cased caddisfly larvae to a benthivorous fish, the brown bullhead (<em>Ameiurus nebulosus</em>). Ninety percent (9/10) of the bullheads selected a larva with plastic in its case over a larva with a fully natural case as the first prey they attacked. Overall, consumption of plastic-cased larvae represented 63% of all prey consumed, suggesting that the incorporation of PET microplastic fragments in case matrices renders larval caddisflies more vulnerable to predation. Case-building caddisflies can thus facilitate the transfer of plastic and associated contaminants into aquatic food webs.","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"89 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145116388","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":"Chronic Sublethal Exposure to Methylmercury Lengthens Telomeres in Developing Zebra Finches","authors":"Rachel L. Davis, Samuel D. Mason, Christian Wake, Giulia Fabozzi, William L. Catalano, Chaim A. Schramm, Amy R. Henry, Cokie L. Parker, Farida Laboune, Casey L. McLaughlin, Jeffrey D. Kittilson, John P. Swaddle, Daniel A. Cristol, Britt J. Heidinger, Daniel C. Douek","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127148","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127148","url":null,"abstract":"Methylmercury (MeHg) is a widespread environmental pollutant known to cause DNA and chromosomal damage, in part through reactive oxygen species (ROS). Telomeres, essential for chromosomal protection, are highly sensitive to oxidative damage and consequent shortening. While ROS-dependent oxidative stress accelerates telomere attrition <em>in vitro</em>, the mechanisms by which chronic exposure to ROS-inducing exogenous agents affects telomere length <em>in vivo</em> remain unclear. We studied effects of sublethal, multi-generational MeHg exposure on telomere dynamics during early life in zebra finches (<em>Taeniopygia guttata</em>). Continuous exposure to an environmentally relevant concentration of dietary MeHg (1.2 mg/kg) resulted in longer relative telomeres in red blood cells, brain, liver, kidney and lung by sexual maturity. No evidence of selection for longer telomeres across generations of MeHg exposure was observed. Lung protein expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), a DNA synthesis marker, remained unchanged, suggesting telomere maintenance or elongation occurs independently of proliferation. However, β-Catenin expression, a key transcription factor in Wnt signaling, increased in young MeHg-exposed birds. Transcriptomic analysis of bone marrow revealed up-regulation of oncogenic and pro-inflammatory signaling pathways and down-regulation of mitotic cell cycle pathways. Combined, our data reveal cellular processes reminiscent of tumorigenesis and suggestive of replicative immortality of telomeres under chronic stress.","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"128 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145093637","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}