Effects of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and a legacy aqueous film forming foam containing 91% PFOS (AFFF PFOS) on reproduction, chick survivability and growth of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) were determined. Day-old Japanese quail were administered PFOS or AFFF PFOS at 6 dietary concentrations ranging from 0 to 21 mg kg-1 feed for a total of 20 wk. At 4 wk of age, 16 male/female pairs per

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can cause transcriptomic changes that may disrupt biological processes associated with reproductive function including metabolism, transport, and cell growth. We investigated effects from in ovo and dietary exposure to 17β-trenbolone (17βT; at 0, 1 and 10 ppm) on the Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) hepatic transcriptome. Our objectives were to identify differentially

Recently, soil contamination with microplastics has emerged as a serious global environmental concern that has necessitated more research on their potential impacts on soil biota. We investigated the acute and chronic toxicity of 2 different polystyrene microplastics, pure versus commercial (0–0.5% w/w in soil; sized 65–125 µm) on earthworm mortality, reproduction, and genotoxicity. Whereas the microplastics

The competence of a species for a zoonotic disease can be broadly defined as its ability to cause new infections, thereby increasing the fitness of the causative parasite (Merrill and Johnson 2020). Because most zoonotic diseases originate from mammals, studies have sought to identify mammalian species likely to exhibit higher competence and the drivers that underlie variation in competence. Indeed

Suspended particles (SP) exist widely in various water systems and are able to adsorb other pollutants in water, producing ecotoxic effects on aquatic nontarget species. Until now, however, few studies have focused on the effects of SP on antibiotics. Therefore, the present study investigated the effects of the mixtures of SP and phenicol antibiotics (chloramphenicol [CAP], thiamphenicol [TAP]) on

Multiple factors including habitat loss, pollutants, invasive species, and disease have contributed to the global decline of amphibians; and further declines can be expected as a result of climate change. Warming temperatures may allow for range expansion of invasive plants, and because herbicides are the primary method to control invasive plants, chemical use may increase. A laboratory experiment

The amphibian metamorphosis assay (AMA; US Environmental Protection Agency [USEPA] test guideline 890.1100 and Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development test guideline 231) has been used for more than a decade to assess the potential thyroid-mediated endocrine activity of chemicals. In 2013, in the context of the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program of the USEPA, a Scientific Advisory

Traditional ecotoxicology methods involving copepods have focused on exposure of pooled individuals and averaged responses, but there is increasing awareness of the importance of individual variation. Many biological traits are density-dependent, and decisions to use single-individual or pooled exposure may affect responses to anthropogenic stressors. We investigated how conspecific density as a biotic

The ecological impact of tire wear particles in aquatic ecosystems is a growing environmental concern. In this study, we combined toxicity testing, using fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) embryos, with non-target high-resolution liquid chromatography Orbitrap mass spectrometry to characterize the toxicity and chemical mixture of organic chemicals associated with tire particle (TP) leachates. We

The concept of source-sink dynamics as a potentially important component of metapopulation dynamics was introduced in the 1980's. The objective of this paper is to review the considerable body of work that has been developed to consider its theoretical implications as well as to understand how source-sink dynamics may manifest under field conditions to the specific case of non-target arthropods in

The effects of combined exposure to microplastics and contaminants are still not completely understood. To fill this gap, we assessed the effects of polyethylene terephthalate microplastic fibers (MF) (100 mg/L; 360 µm average length) on the toxicity of AgNP (32 nm) and AgNO3 (0.1 – 10 µg Ag/L) to Daphnia magna. Acute immobilization (EC50) and cellular energy allocation (CEA; ratio between available

Terrestrial toxicology data are limited for comprehensive ecotoxicological risk assessment (ERA) of ecosystems contaminated by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) partly due to their existence as mixtures in the environment. This complicates logistical dose-response modeling and establishment of a threshold value characterizing the chronic toxicity of PFAS to ecological receptors. We examined

Transcriptomic responses combined with apical adverse ecologically relevant outcomes have proven to be useful to unravel and anchor molecular mechanisms of action to adverse outcomes. This is the case for feeding inhibition responses in the model ecotoxicological species Daphnia magna. The aim of this study was to assess the transcriptomic responses in guts dissected from D. magna individuals exposed

Along with the rapid development of nanotechnology, the bio-safety assessment of nanotechnology products, including nanomaterials, becomes more and more important. Nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) is a valuable model organism that has been widely used in the field of biology because of their excellent advantages, including low cost, small size, short life span, and highly conservative genomes

Steel slag is being used worldwide for a variety of applications, among which underwater dyke reinforcement. In this study the leaching and bioaccumulation of 18 inorganic compounds from Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) steel slag, was monitored in marine experimental ecosystems (mesocosms) for 12 weeks. Triplicated mesocosms were installed at two refreshment rates, one reflecting the situation in the Oosterschelde

Neonicotinoid insecticides (NNIs) are now popular in many agricultural systems across Africa; however, the extent of human exposures to NNIs in African countries is scarcely reported. The present study evaluates neonicotinoid exposures in the consumer population of Kumasi, a cosmopolitan city in Ghana. A total of 75 human urine samples were collected from healthy volunteers (nonfarmers, aged 13–80 yr)

Many banned persistent organic pollutants (POPs) remain for decades in the aquatic environment and can have harmful effects on long-lived predators because of their high bioaccumulation and biomagnification potentials. We investigated the occurrence and levels of 18 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 16 organochlorine pesticides in European pond turtles (n = 174) from April to July 2018 in the Camargue

Methods used to derive water quality regulations for persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic substances (PBTs) in the United States have evolved substantially over the past 50 years, leveraging current understandings and assumptions about the nature and magnitude of partitioning and accumulation of substances in water, sediments, and organisms. In the US and across the world, environmental regulations

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) impaired pre-migratory fueling in 49 orally dosed Sanderling (Calidris alba). In the present study, 8 genes related to fat deposition and PAH exposure were measured in liver subsamples from these same shorebirds. At the highest dose (1260 µg total PAH [tPAH]/kg body wt/day), PAH exposure decreased liver basic fatty acid binding protein 1 (Lbfabp) and hepatic

Although the distribution of 8:2 polyfluoroalkyl phosphate diester (8:2 diPAP) in aquatic environments has been reported, details on its uptake, tissue specificity, and elimination in bivalve mollusks remain to be clarified. The present study is the first report on the accumulation and elimination of 8:2 diPAP in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis). The tissue-specific accumulation and depuration of

Ecological soil quality standards for lead (Pb) that account for soil Pb bioavailability have not yet been derived. We derived such standards based on specific studies of the long-term bioavailability and toxicity of Pb to soil organisms and a compilation of field data on the bioaccumulation of Pb in earthworms. Toxicity thresholds of Pb to plants, invertebrates, or microorganisms vary over more than

Pollution of the marine environment has been increasing as a result of anthropogenic activities. The preservation of marine ecosystems as well as the safety of harvested seafood are nowadays a global concern. In the present study, levels of pharmaceuticals and personal care products were assessed in different environmental compartments in the near-shore marine environment of False Bay, Cape Town, South

Information on the effects of pollutants in sediments at an ecosystem level to validate current and proposed risk assessment procedures is scarce. The most frequent criticism of these procedures is that responses of surrogate species in the laboratory are not representative of responses of natural populations. Here, a tiered approach using both laboratory and microcosm exposures (96-h and 21-d laboratory

The sources, ecotoxicological impact, and potential remediation strategies of antiretroviral drugs (ARVDs) as emerging contaminants in surface waters are reviewed in this report based on recent literature. The occurrence of ARVDs in water bodies raises concern because many communities in Africa depend on rivers for water resources. Southern Africa is a potential hotspot regarding ARVD contamination

Petroleum hydrocarbons can be discharged into the marine environment during offshore oil and gas production or as a result of oil spills, with potential impacts on marine organisms. Ecotoxcicological assay durations (typically 24 to 96 h) used to characterise risks to exposed organisms may not always reflect realistic environmental exposure durations in a high energy offshore environment where hydrocarbons

A long-term exposure outdoor microcosm study was conducted to evaluate the effects of zinc (Zn) on zooplankton, phytoplankton, and periphyton in a freshwater system. Five Zn treatment concentrations (nominal: 8, 20, 40, 80, and 160 μg/L Zn) and an untreated control with 3 replicates each were used. Various physical and chemical characteristics of the microcosms and biological assessment endpoints (e

The beneficial use of drinking water treatment residuals (DWTRs) faces barriers due primarily to uncertainties and concerns about their potential environmental impacts. We used total and water leachable toxic metal concentrations and 2 benthic organism–based bioassays to identify suitable DWTR substrates for introduction to freshwater systems. Using total metal contents and the consensus probable effect

Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), due to its increasing use as an alternative to perfluooctane sulfonate (PFOS), is widely detected in humans and the environment, necessitating the evaluation of its potential ecotoxicological risk. We assessed the toxicity and bioaccumulation potential of PFBS in Caenorhabditis elegans, using lethality, locomotion, reproduction, life span, growth, and chemotactic behavior

The herbicide atrazine is one of the most commonly used, well studied, and controversial pesticides on the planet. Much of the controversy involves the effects of atrazine on wildlife, particularly amphibians, and the ethically questionable decision making of members of industry, government, the legal system, and institutions of higher education, in most cases in an effort to “bend science,” defined

A simple, rapid ultra–high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS) method has been developed and optimized for the quantitation of a range of pharmaceuticals, metabolites, and related bioactive compounds in the bivalve mollusc species mussels (Mytilus edulis) and Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas). Shellfish tissues were extracted using a simple solvent-based extraction

Biomonitoring methylmercury (MeHg) exposure is problematic in resource-limited settings and with difficult-to-access populations where traditional biomarker approaches present logistical, economic, and ethical issues. The present study aimed to validate the use of dried blood spots (DBS) to assess MeHg exposure in a real-world contaminated field setting. DBS and whole blood samples were collected from

Methylmercury (MeHg) is a highly toxic form of mercury that can bioaccumulate in fish tissue. Methylmercury is produced by anaerobic bacteria, many of which are also capable of MeHg degradation. In addition, demethylation in surface waters can occur via abiotic sunlight-mediated processes. The goal of the present study was to understand the relative importance of microbial Hg methylation/demethylation

Water‐borne contaminants were monitored in 69 tributaries of the Laurentian Great Lakes in 2010 and 2014 using semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs), and polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS). A risk‐based screening approach was used to prioritize chemicals and chemical mixtures, identify sites at greatest risk for biological impacts, and identify potential hazards to monitor at those

Reducing the environmental burdens and assessing the safety of plastics are a huge global challenge. However, standard test data on the ready biodegradability of plastics are limited. Here, we evaluated the ready biodegradability of 8 biodegradable plastics by using OECD test guideline 301F with non‐specific bacteria and examined the effects of prolonging the test duration to a maximum of 90 d. Cellulose

The environmental fate and persistence of sulfoxaflor is of significant interest given the potential for the insecticide to impact non‐target organisms, particularly pollinating and aquatic species. In the present study we examine the potential for sulfoxaflor, a new sulfoximine insecticide, to undergo degradation and transformation in sediments and the aquatic environment. Following application of

Recently, polychlorinated diphenyl sulfides (PCDPSs) have attracted increasing attention due to their potential adverse effects on human and ecosystem health. Herein, we present a review regarding their environmental occurrence, persistence, bioaccumulation, toxicity and biotransformation. The existing literature demonstrated that PCDPSs are ubiquitous in various environmental matrices, persistent

Benthic communities contain some of the most threatened organisms in aquatic habitats due to different anthropogenic pressures. The high abundance of microplastics (MPs) in sediments will continue to increase in the future, further increasing the probability of interactions between macroinvertebrates and MPs. In the present study, a benthic community in a relatively pristine shallow pond was exposed

Hexavalent chromium is one of the major detrimental heavy metal pollutants. In the present study, B. gargarizans were exposed to 0, 52, 104, 208 and 416 μg/L Cr (VI) from Gosner stage 2 until metamorphosis, and growth, development, histological characteristics of thyroid gland and skeletal ossification were examined. Results demonstrated that survival rate of larvae exposed to Cr (VI) was not different

The present study was conducted to assess the genotoxic potential of water from the Helong Reservoir, which was designated as a strategic drinking water source by the Guangdong Provincial Government of China in October 2016. Four kinds of common indigenous fish samples (Labeo rohita, Cirrhinus molitorella, red tilapia, and Oreochromis niloticus) were collected at 6 sampling sites during the period

The global consumption of human antidepressants has steadily increased over the last years. The most widely prescribed antidepressants are the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which have been linked to various life‐history effects in nontarget organisms. We investigated the effects of the SSRI citalopram hydrobromide on the life history of the copepod Nitocra spinipes. Slight but significant

As a result of military activities, unexploded ordnance and discarded military munitions are present in underwater environments, which has resulted in the release of munitions constituents including the high explosives, 2,4,6‐trinitrotoluene (TNT) and hexahydro‐1,3,5‐trinitro‐1,3,5‐triazine (RDX), along with their primary degradation products, to the water column and adjacent sediments. The present

Rudimentary onsite sanitation systems (OSSs) are extensively used in low‐income countries despite the risk of groundwater contamination. The present study investigated the potential impact of community soak pits on sandy shallow aquifers in a rural area in Sri Lanka. Thirty‐two groundwater samples were collected and measured for traditional indicators, i.e., fecal bacteria Escherichia coli (E.coli)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of exposure to Chilean pulp mill effluent extracts on developing post‐fertilized medaka embryos before and after sex definition relative to sex steroids (testosterone and 17β‐estradiol) and a wood phytoestrogen (beta‐sitosterol). Our study included two waterborne semi‐chronic exposure experiments, using 24hpf unknown‐sex FLFII (female leucophore free)

Contaminants alter the quantity and quality of insect prey available to terrestrial insectivores. In agricultural regions, the quantity of aquatic insects emerging from freshwaters can be impacted by insecticides originating from surrounding croplands. We hypothesized that, in such regions, adult aquatic insects could also act as important vectors of pesticide transfer to terrestrial food webs. To

Predicting metal sensitivities and metal mixture interactions for species within each trophic level is essential to understand the effects of metals at the ecosystem level. The present study was set up to explore the correlations of metal sensitivities among species and if these sensitivities or metal mixture interactions are related to growth or morphological traits. The toxicity of Ni, Cu, and Zn

An in situ bioassay approach was used to determine whether aquatic contaminant stressors in a large Atlantic river ecosystem affect the survival three fish species; the largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides, juveniles), the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas, adults), and the robust redhorse (Moxostoma robustum, juveniles). Hatchery‐propagated fish were placed into cages to assess site‐specific survival

Plant protection products, including insecticides, are important for global food production but can have adverse effects on nontarget organisms including bees. Historically, research investigating such effects has focused mainly on the honeybee (Apis mellifera), whereas less information is available for non‐Apis bees. Consequently, a comprehensive hazard (sensitivity) assessment for the majority of

Imidacloprid, a neonicotinoid pesticide, is used to prevent the spread of the hemlock woolly adelgid, currently affecting Eastern Hemlock trees across North America. When the pesticide is sprayed directly onto soil around infested trees (soil drenching), it can run off into aquatic systems, with potential negative effects on biota. Simultaneously, climate change may lead to faster pool drying, which