Macy Hannan , Fatih Evrendilek , Daniel Leclair , Manisha Choudhary , Kenneth Mensah , Christoph Aeppli , Arjun K. Venkatesan , Onur G. Apul
{"title":"Aftermath of a major firefighting foam spill in Brunswick, Maine: Spatiotemporal dynamics of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the downstream surface waters","authors":"Macy Hannan , Fatih Evrendilek , Daniel Leclair , Manisha Choudhary , Kenneth Mensah , Christoph Aeppli , Arjun K. Venkatesan , Onur G. Apul","doi":"10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100150","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100150","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>On August 19, 2024, 5,500 L of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)-based aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) spilled into the watershed near Brunswick Executive Airport in Maine, USA. This study investigates the immediate impact of the largest PFAS spill in the state's history on nearby aquatic ecosystems. Over 11 days, PFAS were sampled from nine surface waters, detecting 18 PFAS, predominantly perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). A significant reduction in PFAS levels occurred within days due to clean-up efforts and natural attenuation (<em>e.g.</em>, dilution, adsorption, and aerosolization), in addition to downstream transport. Kruskal-Wallis and Steel-Dwass tests revealed significant spatial variability in PFAS, with PFOS, perfluorohexanesulfonic acid, and perfluoroalkyloctanoic acid remaining elevated near the spill but declined by 99.9 % at the Harpswell Cove estuary 3.2 km south of the spill. The rapid PFAS spread poses risks to the downstream environments. This study provides insights into post-spill PFAS dynamics and highlights the urgency of minimizing PFAS-based AFFF use and spills, and further research into long-term ecosystem and human health risks associated with PFAS contamination.</div></div><div><h3>Synopsis</h3><div>The aftermath of a major AFFF spill was analyzed to provide insights into immediate spatiotemporal distribution of PFAS.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":93463,"journal":{"name":"Journal of hazardous materials letters","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100150"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143816821","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Miaomiao Li , Xu Guan , Xiaoxia Yu , Ledong Zhu , Ruiming Zhang , Qingzhu Zhang , Wenxing Wang , Qiao Wang
{"title":"Rational design of CYP120A1 variants and eco-friendly alternatives for enhanced bioremediation of sulfonamide antibiotics","authors":"Miaomiao Li , Xu Guan , Xiaoxia Yu , Ledong Zhu , Ruiming Zhang , Qingzhu Zhang , Wenxing Wang , Qiao Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100151","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100151","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bioremediation mediated by cytochrome P450 enzymes represents an effective strategy for the removal of Sulfonamides (SAs). However, the inherent limitations in the thermostability and catalytic activity of wild-type enzymes result in suboptimal remediation efficiency. Therefore, the development of highly efficient degradative enzymes is crucial for mitigating SAs pollution. Additionally, identifying environmentally friendly alternatives with lower toxicity is beneficial for source control of SAs. This work adopts an integrated strategy that combines bioremediation and source control. Utilizing multiple computational strategies, we rationally designed and screened novel high-efficiency enzyme variants of CYP120A1 specifically targeting SAs degradation, and concurrently evaluated the molecular properties of pollutants to design new green alternatives. This study successfully identified 18 single-mutation enzyme candidates with enhanced thermostability and catalytic activity. Furthermore, we designed three green alternatives, SDZ-13, SDZ-19, and SDZ-27, which exhibit lower toxicity and significantly improved binding affinity with the degradative enzymes. However, accurate and rapid identification of mutation sites and practical application of eco-friendly molecular design remain significant challenges for future research. This work provides theoretical support for the development of efficient degradative enzymes and the design of sustainable alternative compounds, contributing to the advancement of emerging pollutants pollution control strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":93463,"journal":{"name":"Journal of hazardous materials letters","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100151"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143759773","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ting Su , Huasheng Wang , Xiangyu Gu , Shuo Liu , Yusu Xiong , Shuang Deng , Songgeng Li
{"title":"Atmospheric microplastics emission from municipal solid waste incineration power plant: Field evidence and characterizations","authors":"Ting Su , Huasheng Wang , Xiangyu Gu , Shuo Liu , Yusu Xiong , Shuang Deng , Songgeng Li","doi":"10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100149","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100149","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microplastics have been discovered in the solid residuals from municipal solid waste (MSW) incineration plant, posing potential risks to the surrounding environments. However, there exists a lack of evidence on the presence and characterizations of atmospheric microplastic emission from MSW incineration, which is considered more hazardous due to size reduction. Hence, we collected particles from flue gas emitted by a circulating fluidized bed incinerator, to investigate the morphology, chemical structure, and emission abundance of microplastics. Further, particles from different stream locations were collected to identify the effects of air pollution control devices on the microplastic abundance and chemical structures. Results indicate the predominant length of the microplastics in the flue gas ranged from 10 to 40 μm at different locations. The major polymer types of microplastics were polyvinyl chloride and polyacrylamide, resulting from inherent Cl elements and selective non-catalytic reduction in MSW, respectively. Based on the field data, the atmospheric microplastic emission was estimated at 2.1 × 10<sup>12</sup> pieces/yr, turned out to be a pivotal contributor to the atmospheric microplastics. Notably, the unique microplastic chemical properties pose a higher threat to human health than conventional plastics. Our work prioritizes an alternative source of microplastic emissions and calls for further research endeavors.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":93463,"journal":{"name":"Journal of hazardous materials letters","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100149"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143684617","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Niklas Köller , Dustin Roedder , Christian J. Linnartz , Mark Enders , Florian Morell , Patrick Altmeier , Matthias Wessling
{"title":"Recovery of nitrate and fluoride salts from stainless steel pickling wastewater with flow-electrode capacitive deionization","authors":"Niklas Köller , Dustin Roedder , Christian J. Linnartz , Mark Enders , Florian Morell , Patrick Altmeier , Matthias Wessling","doi":"10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100148","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100148","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Flow-electrode Capacitive Deionization (FCDI) is an innovative method for practical salt removal and recycling applications. Here, we report that FCDI facilitates the recovery of nitrate and fluoride salts from brines produced during the wastewater treatment process in a stainless steel pickling line. Laboratory-scale experiments with synthetic wastewaters were used to evaluate the influence of (a) the membrane thickness, (b) feed flow rates, and (c) applied voltage on the outlet concentrations and the average salt transfer rate. In continuous single-pass experiments, the flow rates of diluate and concentrate have the greatest influence on the resulting outlet concentrations in the FCDI process as they directly influence the residence time. The operating voltage of the FCDI process can be varied to increase the ratio of fluoride over nitrate for recycling.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":93463,"journal":{"name":"Journal of hazardous materials letters","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100148"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143526931","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ba Reum Kwon , Gowoon Lee , Inae Lee , Ah-Reum Jo , Jeonghwan Lee , Na-Youn Park , Younglim Kho , Jung Pyo Lee , Kyungho Choi
{"title":"First snapshot comparison of nephrotoxic potentials of four common organic UV filters in juvenile and adult zebrafish (Danio rerio)","authors":"Ba Reum Kwon , Gowoon Lee , Inae Lee , Ah-Reum Jo , Jeonghwan Lee , Na-Youn Park , Younglim Kho , Jung Pyo Lee , Kyungho Choi","doi":"10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100143","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100143","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To protect against UV light, organic UV filters (UVFs) are widely used in sunscreen and various consumer products. Concerns regarding the potential health impacts of UVFs have been raised, however, information is mostly limited to their endocrine disruptions. The present study aims to investigate nephrotoxic potentials of four major organic UVFs, i.e., avobenzone (AVB), benzophenone-3 (BP-3), octocrylene (OC), and octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC), using a zebrafish model at different life stages. Test UVFs were applied during early (0–30 days post-fertilization (dpf)), and adult life stage (> 6 months old, 21 d exposure), and investigated for alterations in gene expression and/or kidney function. In juvenile fish (30 dpf), early life stage exposure to BP-3 and OMC caused significant induction of proteinuria. Moreover, regardless of life stage, key genes (<em>wt1a</em>, <em>podocin</em>, <em>nephrin</em>, <em>cdh17</em>, <em>sim1a</em>, and <em>kim-1</em>) responsible for kidney structure and function showed transcriptional alterations that support nephrotoxic potentials of the test UVFs. Our results demonstrate that exposure to widely used organic UVFs could impair normal biological processes for maintaining kidney health during both life stages. Considering the widespread use of organic UVFs among the general human population, the implication of this nephrotoxic potential warrants further investigation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":93463,"journal":{"name":"Journal of hazardous materials letters","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100143"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143508589","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Claudia A. Ramírez-Valdespino , Marlyn Morales-García , Guillermo Herrera-Pérez , Yordan J. Romero-Contreras , Enrique García-Mireles , Joan Salas-Leiva , Susana González-Chávez , Socorro Tarango-Rivero , Erasmo Orrantia-Borunda
{"title":"Exploring the impact of copper oxide nanoparticles on the biocontrol activity and plant growth promotion of Trichoderma asperellum","authors":"Claudia A. Ramírez-Valdespino , Marlyn Morales-García , Guillermo Herrera-Pérez , Yordan J. Romero-Contreras , Enrique García-Mireles , Joan Salas-Leiva , Susana González-Chávez , Socorro Tarango-Rivero , Erasmo Orrantia-Borunda","doi":"10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100147","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100147","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Agriculture is constantly in the search for new alternatives to control phytopathogens and improvement of plant growth. One of its main strategies is the use of biocontrollers, among them, <em>Trichoderma</em> genus stand out for their versatility and broad spectrum phytopatogenic fungi attacked. On the other hand, nanotechnology is positioning itself as an alternative to the use of agrochemicals, especially metal oxide nanoparticles, including ZnO, TiO<sub>2</sub> and CuO. Recently, it has been seen that when <em>Trichoderma</em> is put in contact with nanoparticles, it increases its biocontrol and biostimulant activity. Therefore, in this work we performed the characterization of a <em>T. asperellum</em> strain, which was capable to grow in different concentrations of CuO nanoparticles, obtaining that, at 200 ppm, <em>Trichoderma</em> showed no changes in growth and no apparent stress. Moreover, the strain developed a higher biocontrol activity against two <em>Fusarium oxysporum</em> strains, but decreases with <em>F. fujikuroi</em>, as well as changes in the expression of genes associated to biocontrol. Finally, an enhance in alfalfa growth is reported. These results suggest that, at the tested concentrations, CuO-NPs do not interfere with the biocontrol activity of <em>T. asperellum</em>, providing the basis for the development of a bionanoformulation to control <em>F. oxysporum</em> and promotes alfalfa growth.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":93463,"journal":{"name":"Journal of hazardous materials letters","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100147"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143508663","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Parental BPA exposure disrupts offspring transcriptomic profiles and impairs embryonic lineage specification during zygotic genome activation","authors":"Yuequn Chen , Kusheng Wu , Wenlong Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100146","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100146","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine-disrupting chemical known for its developmental toxicity. However, the impact of BPA on early embryonic development, particularly during zygotic genome activation (ZGA), remains underexplored. In this study, zebrafish embryos at 3.5 and 4.5 hours post-fertilization (hpf) were collected after 7-day parental exposure to 1.0 µM BPA for transcriptome sequencing. Transcriptomic data underwent differential gene expression functional enrichment and gene set enrichment analyses. Public single-cell transcriptome atlases of zebrafish embryos at different developmental stages (3.3, 4, and 4.8 hpf) were obtained to build signature matrices for digital cell type sorting of the bulk transcriptome using the CIBERSORTx algorithm. Results indicated that parental BPA exposure resulted in muted gene expression response, disturbed energy metabolism profile, and increased pro-inflammatory signatures during ZGA. Digital cell type deconvolution revealed altered cell composition, including deeper multilayer and enveloping layer cells and fewer margin cells. Furthermore, reductions in neural progenitor and heart primordium lineages, alongside expansions in primordial germ and mesendodermal lineages, potentially contribute to later-stage developmental abnormalities. This study elucidates the embryotoxic effects of BPA during the ZGA period, shedding light on the developmental perturbations from early-life exposure to this ubiquitous environmental contaminant.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":93463,"journal":{"name":"Journal of hazardous materials letters","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100146"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143444693","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Pyrethroids have become a barrier to the daily existence of molluscs (Review)","authors":"Raja Saha , Sangita Maiti Dutta","doi":"10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100144","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100144","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Molluscs are significant aquatic organisms, which serve as bioindicator species. They are crucial for maintaining ecological balance as secondary consumers. Molluscs are threatened by pesticides such as pyrethroid insecticides. Pyrethroids are increasingly utilized to control insects in agriculture and gardening. It contaminates aquatic bodies through rainwater runoff and drainage-sewage systems. The current review will focus on the issue of increasing pyrethroid use and its biological effects on molluscs. Due to their highly lipophilic nature, pyrethroids pose a significant risk to these organisms by affecting their metabolites, producing reactive oxygen species, and influencing neurotransmitter actions. The threats to the molluscs and eventually to the concerned aquatic ecosystem warrant significant discussion and attention.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":93463,"journal":{"name":"Journal of hazardous materials letters","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100144"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143480617","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mariana I. Manetti , M. Laura Migliori , M. Florencia Kronberg , Rosana Rota , Aldana Moya , Eduardo A. Pagano , Daniel H. Calvo , Sandrine Deglin , Michelle Embry , Diego A. Golombek , Eliana R. Munarriz
{"title":"Toxicological assessment & risk evaluation of pesticides and their mixtures through C. elegans & RISK21: A risk-based approach for sustainable agriculture","authors":"Mariana I. Manetti , M. Laura Migliori , M. Florencia Kronberg , Rosana Rota , Aldana Moya , Eduardo A. Pagano , Daniel H. Calvo , Sandrine Deglin , Michelle Embry , Diego A. Golombek , Eliana R. Munarriz","doi":"10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100145","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100145","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pesticides are extensively used in agriculture to protect crops, but their environmental release, particularly as mixtures, raises concerns about effects on non-target organisms and ecosystem health. This study aimed to evaluate the toxicity of five pesticides used extensively on soybean crops - glyphosate, 2,4-D, paraquat, chlorpyrifos, and lambda-cyhalothrin- and their binary mixtures on the nematode <em>Caenorhabditis elegans</em>, a model organism in toxicology. Locomotion and growth assays were conducted to assess acute and chronic effects, and the RISK21 matrix framework was used to convey environmental risks based on the bioassay results combined with surface water monitoring data and modeled exposure estimates. Our results demonstrate significant reductions in locomotion and body length for all tested pesticides, with synergistic effects observed in binary mixtures. However, the risk-based analysis suggests that the estimated environmental concentrations of these pesticides pose minimal ecological risks. In conclusion, our work highlights the novelty of combining <em>C. elegans</em>-based toxicity assays in a risk-based approach to evaluate pesticide mixtures, offering a practical approach for predicting environmental impacts and promoting sustainable agriculture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":93463,"journal":{"name":"Journal of hazardous materials letters","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100145"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143419900","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Visualization and spatial mapping of PFAS in the edible storage root of radish","authors":"Yuwei Zuo, Weilan Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100141","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100141","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Plants, as key components of trophic networks, play a critical role in the bioaccumulation of PFAS and their transfer to higher trophic levels. This study introduces an innovative methodology using timsTOF fleX MALDI-2 to visualize the spatial distribution of PFAS in plant tissues. Radish was selected as the model plant due to its global popularity as a widely consumed vegetable. DAN (1,5-diaminonaphthalene) was used as the MALDI matrix, and the mass spectrometry operating conditions were optimized to acquire the best PFAS signals. The results show that long-chain PFAS predominantly accumulated in the xylem of the edible storage root, where their high hydrophobicity limits upward translocation. In contrast, short-chain PFAS and PFOA exhibited stronger signals in the cortex and periderm, likely due to alternative transport pathways. This differential distribution highlights the significant influence of PFAS physicochemical properties, such as chain length and hydrophobicity, on their in-planta transport mechanisms. By precisely mapping PFAS within plant tissues, this study provides a powerful tool for identifying high-risk edible tissues and assessing human exposure risks through PFAS-contaminated crops. It also reinforces the urgent need for sustainable remediation strategies to reduce PFAS levels in agricultural systems, thereby safeguarding food safety, ecosystem health, and human well-being.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":93463,"journal":{"name":"Journal of hazardous materials letters","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100141"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143169644","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}