Abstract Zinc, cadmium, and lead in livers, kidneys, and feathers of 48 young and adult Atlantic puffins found dead or dying off the coast of Galicia (Northwest Spain) were determined. Most abundant between the three elements was the essential metal zinc, with highest mean levels (173 ± 9 mg/kg dry weight) in livers. For the two non-essential metals, highest mean levels of cadmium were found in kidneys

Abstract This discussion paper looks into the COVID-19 induced lockdown on the air quality of the five most polluted cities in India. There were significant reductions in the concentrations of particulate matter, ≤ 2.5 µm and ≤10 µm, NO2, and CO during lockdown compared to that in 2019. Even then, the levels of particulate matter never reached the target specified by the World Health Organization.

Abstract Small-scale gold mining activities and their mercury emissions in the Gorontalo Utara Regency of the Gorontalo Province, Sulawesi Island, Indonesia, have been studied. The mining occurs in many areas of this region, but especially in the three villages Hulawa, Ilangata and Ilangata Barat. Mining activities in the Hulawa village are the oldest (19th century) in the regency, whereas mining in

Abstract Chinese Cordyceps is a famous fungus–larva symbiont. In this study, the levels of Pb, Ni, As, and Cd and some major metals in the soil environment that may contribute to the occurrence of Chinese Cordyceps have been determined. Assessments showed that potential ecological risks in the study areas from these elements were low and in the order of Cd > As > Pb > Ni. Multiple linear regression

Abstract Selenium is a nutrient element essential for the growth and reproduction of plants and animals. Generally, selenium nanoparticle has a high level of absorption in regular supplementation comparative to selenium. In this study, selenium nanoparticles have been synthesized using a cell-free extract of Geobacillus as a reducing and stabilizing agent. This is for the first time; Geobacillus has

Abstract Flower like zinc oxide nanoparticles have been synthesized and the effects of their aqueous suspensions at 200–1000 mg/L on seed germination and seedlings of Triticum aestivum have been investigated. When treated with suspensions of zinc oxide nanoparticles at concentrations of 200–1000 mg/L, germination was reduced to 45% and photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoids) were

Abstract Zinc pyrithione is an organometallic compound with antimicrobial activity used in many industrial products. In this study, cytotoxicity (cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase release, proliferation rate, and mitotic index) and genotoxicity (sister chromatid exchange and micronucleus test) of zinc pyrithione on human lymphocytes were determined. Intracellular zinc concentrations were determined

Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the cytogenotoxic effects of methylparaben, ethylparaben and butylparaben using battery of tests in plant cells (Allium cepa assay) and human lymphocytes (chromosome aberration test and alkaline comet assay). Our results for A. cepa assay showed that none of the tested parabens showed inducing effect on root growth. Mitotic index values decreased with

Abstract In the present investigation, groundwater samples (n = 508) collected from northern, central, and southern Punjab were analyzed for the detection of potentially hazardous metals (Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr) and As using atomic absorption spectrometer. Lead was observed as a predominant contaminant with 167 (32.8%) samples exceeding the permissible limit, followed by As, with 19 (3.7%) samples above the

Abstract The herbicides may have adverse effects on the soil microorganism. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of herbicides pendimethalin and imazethapyr and mixture thereof on the growth of Rhizobium leguminosarum M-1, Rhizobium leguminosarum LSMR-1 and Strenotrophomonas maltophilia RB-3 in vitro and on soil microflora (bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes) at field conditions. The

Abstract Formaldehyde (FA) is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant and a group 1 carcinogen. CD8+ T cells are specific tumor killers in the adaptive immune system. In this study, 2.0 mg/m3 respiratory FA exposure to male mice was found to selectively reduce mature CD8+ T cells in the spleen and the CD8 T cells in the thymus. In order to monitor the exposure of FA in vitro, a fluorescent FA donor was

Abstract The influence of ibuprofen exposure during the perinatal period, when the brain sexual differentiation process occurs, on the sexual behavior and fertility of female offspring Wistar rats has been evaluated. Ibuprofen was orally administered to the dams at doses of 0, 10, 30 or 60 mg/kg during the gestational (from day 15 to delivery) and lactational period. Females exposed to ibuprofen showed

Abstract On a global basis, walnuts rank second behind almonds in nut production and China, the United States and Iran are, respectively top producers of this nut. Generally, the nuts are exposed to relatively high temperatures and high humidity which predispose fungal growth. Hence, it is of crucial importance to regularly check the levels of toxins produced by fungi in these products, and subsequently

This study reports on new particle formation (NPF) and characteristic features observed from a rural site falling in the rainshadow of the Western Ghats in peninsular India. A total of 35 NPF events observed during August 2018 - January 2019 are classified and analyzed here. The apparent formation rates ranged from 0.2 to 10.0 cm–3 s–1, while the growth rates of nucleation mode particles ranged from

Small-scale miners often engage in environmentally damaging activities, are subject to poor safety conditions, and utilize inefficient mineral extraction technologies. Here, we explore environmental impacts to surface waters from regional artisanal small-scale gold placer mining operations conducted in iron and aluminum-rich saprolites found within the lateritic, interior Amazon rainforest of Suriname

Lithium-doped bismuth oxide nanoplates with the thickness of 50–150 nm and tetragonal bismuth oxide, monoclinic lithium bismuthate phases have been synthesized via a simple hydrothermal process using lithium acetate and sodium bismuthate as the raw materials. Cobalt nanoparticles modified lithium-doped bismuth oxide nanoplates hybrids were obtained by an in situ photo-deposition route. The cobalt

The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effects of zinc nanoparticles against cisplatin-induced testicular toxicity in mice. Zinc nanoparticles were produced by microwave-assisted synthesis using Lavandula vera extract as reducing agent. Single doses of cisplatin (7 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) and ZnSO4 (10 mg/kg, orally), and various doses of zinc nanoparticles (10 − 50 mg/kg, orally)

Festuca rubra L. plants are pseudometallophytes colonizing abandoned Pb/Zn mine areas, successfully employed in phytostabilization. To study the contribution of low-molecular weight organic acids to metal tolerance, F. rubra plants were grown for three months in hydroponics with Cd (1.8, 18 and 36 µmol L−1), Pb (50, 250 and 500 µmol L−1) and Zn (0.3, 3 and 6 mmol L−1), separately, and in ternary combination

This study reports the concentrations of total mercury and methyl mercury in sixteen families of marine biota caught off the coast of Kasimedu in Chennai, India, an important but understudied fish landing region. These included the commonly caught croakers, carangids, rays, goat fish, anchovies, crabs, and prawns. There was no correlation between total mercury or methyl mercury with fish length or

Abstract Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, especially perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), have been extensively used for over 50 years. A growing body of evidence has emerged demonstrating the potential adverse effects of these substances, including its effect on the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, as one of the most prevalent chronic liver diseases. Nonetheless, there is no

Abstract To evaluate the effects of exogenous selenium on cadmium tolerance and accumulation in two varieties of cucumber, pot experiments with cadmium at 10 mg/kg soil were conducted. Plant biomass, cadmium bioaccumulation, cadmium speciation, and antioxidative enzyme activity, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase were determined. Exogenous selenium (1 mg/L

The methods conventionally used for the extraction of organic pollutants in different environmental matrices are not suitable for measuring low concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons bioaccumulated in terrestrial snails that are both indicator of soil quality and a food item of various consumers including human being. A protocol, adapted from the QuEChERS method, originally designed for

Wooden sleepers used in railways are impregnated with preservatives with fungicidic and bactericidic properties, which contain a large amount of harmful polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The aim of this research was to reveal the type of fungi in the rhizosphere of plants, which tolerate pollutants and can be involved in bioremediation process of creosote-contaminated used wooden railway sleepers

Boron concentrations in 335 tap water samples collected from 75 cities in Turkey have been determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Boron levels ranged between 0.001 and 5.5 mg/L. The lowest boron levels were in Trabzon, the highest in Kayseri. Boron levels in tap water from cities of the Aegean, Eastern, and Central Anatolian Regions were higher than those from cities of the Marmara

Pot experiments were conducted to investigate the seasonal and genetic variations of Cd accumulation among 18 pakchoi cultivars (Brassica chinensis). The relationship between Cd accumulation and the transpiration rate was investigated as well through hydroponic experiment. Cd concentrations in the edible parts of pakchoi grown in summer (0.33–1.61 mg·kg−1) were about 1.1–1.7 times higher than those

Ractopamine, a β-adrenergic receptor agonist, is commonly used as a repartitioning agent and growth promotor in animal agriculture. There is evidence that ractopamine can enter natural water sources from livestock wastes, at concentrations in the low ng/L range. Currently, aquatic toxicity data for ractopamine is scarce. Therefore, in two separate experiments Xenopus laevis tadpoles were exposed to

The main aim of this study was to histochemically estimate the relative copper content in the liver during the breeding cycle of female Ohrid trout, a wild population endemic to the Ohrid Lake. The histology of the oogenetic cycle in this species was documented for the first time. Histochemistry with semi-quantification revealed positive correlations between the gonadosomatic indices and copper load

If anthropogenic CO2 emissions are maintained at the current rate, the pH of freshwater ecosystems will drop by 0.2–0.3 pH units by the year 2100, which will have great effects on aquatic biota. The impact of acidification on the ostracod species Cypridopsis vidua as a model organism has been studied. To provide the best rearing conditions, a preliminary experiment with different food concentrations

(2020). SARS-CoV-2 epidemic: changes in air quality during the lockdown in Zagreb (Republic of Croatia) Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry: Vol. 102, No. 5-6, pp. 302-303.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a group of fluoro-surfactants widely detected in the environment, wildlife, and humans, have been linked to adverse health effects. A growing body of literature has addressed their effects on obesity, diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. This review summarizes the brief historical use and chemistry of per- and polyfluoroalkyl

Starting from the suspicion that the medicinal herbs may contain traces of pesticides and taking into account the risks of patients being exposed to contaminated products, the aim of this research was to evaluate the pesticide residues and the degree of their transfer (%) in three types of preparations (infusion, decoctionand cold maceration), for four medicinal plant species very often used in phytotherapy

Contaminated food chain is a serious contender for arsenic (As) uptake around the globe. In Nadia, West Bengal, we trace possible means of transfer of As from multiple sources reaching different trophic levels, and associated seasonal variability leading to chronic As uptake. This work considers possible sources-pathways of As transfer through food chain in rural community. Arsenic concentration in

Fusarubin analogues of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris were investigated for antifungal activity in vitro against five soil borne phytopathogenic fungi. 3-O-Methyl-8-O-methyl-fusarubin was inhibitory towards S. sclerotiorum (EC50 0.33 mmol L−1) and Sclerotium rolfsii (EC50 0.38 mmol L−1). A structure–antifungal activity relationship of fusarubin analogues was established from their activity performance

This research is conducted to determine the larvicidal, repellent and pathological effects of fruit extracts of C. colocynthis on malaria vector mosquito, Anopheles stephensi Liston, 1901. The fruit water and ethanol extract of C. colocynthis were concentrated for larvicidal and repellent activities on human volunteer against An. stephensi. The temephos larvicide was tested as the positive control

A large number of pesticides used in agricultural practice has been characterized or suspected to be Endocrine Disruptors, with dietary intake to be the major route of consumer’s exposure. In the present study the safety to consumer after the consumption of pome fruits and fruiting vegetables originated from the area of Thessaly, Central Greece was assessed. Objective samplings of 110 samples were

In this study, The essential oil of flowers, fruits, and leaves of Thevetia peruviana, which were collected in Vietnam, were being reported for the first time. The essential oil of flowers was extracted by different methods: n-hexane extraction, distillation water, and supercritical CO2 extraction. The compositions of essential oil of different parts of Thevetia peruviana were analyzed by GC-FID and

Cooking of foods and the burning of biomass and fossil fuels in stoves are the main sources of cooking fumes, with carbon black and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as main components. The toxicity of carbon black and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons has been well studied individually, but the combined toxicity is much less understood. Carbon black can adsorb benzo(a)pyrene to form a complex which

This study was aimed to analyze trace elements in the particulate matter-10 and evaluate their health risks during the cooking of the most widely consumed Ethiopian traditional dish sauces (Wots) using charcoal, kerosene and electricity stoves. The trace elements (iron, cadmium, arsenic, chromium, lead, boron, nickel, cobalt, tin, copper and zinc) in the particulate matter-10 were found in the range

The roles of PM2.5-induced mitochondrial damage and oxidative stress on mast cell degranulation were examined in vitro. Mast cells were treated with suspensions of PM2.5 in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium at concentrations from 25 to 200 mg/L in the absence or presence of 10 mmol/L N-acetyl-L-cysteine. Biological effects and mitochondrial function were assessed by determining cell viability, β-hexosaminidase

A novel method of synthesis of tin dioxide quantum dots employing Camellia sinensis shoots as reducing agent and stabilizer is presented. The quantum dots were characterized by UV spectroscopy, X-Ray diffraction analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The crystalline tin dioxide quantum

Andrographolide sodium bisulfite (ASB) widely used for intestinal infections and respiratory tract infections. It has been reported to frequently cause acute renal failure in clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the nephrotoxicity and toxicokinetics in Sprague-Dawley rats after a single-dose injection of ASB administered at 100, 600, and 1000 mg/kg via intravenous tail injections

Mycotoxins are hazardous compounds which, produced by certain fungi, contaminate agricultural commodities and cause a condition called mycotoxicosis in humans and livestock. In cellular level the toxicity is due to the generation of reactive oxygen species, disruption of protein, DNA and RNA synthesis, depletion of glutathione content, and induction of apoptosis. Protection of food from contamination

2-Methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid has been widely used as herbicide in the United States and Europe. This study aims to quantify its effects at concentrations of 0–100 mg/L for up to 48 h on the physiological status of the lichen Ramalina fraxinea. 2-Methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid exposure induced a reduction in the maximum capacity of PSII, in chlorophyll content along with chlorophyll degradation

In order to develop effective protection measures and reduce the number of diseases in the welding industry, a detailed study of the mechanism of propagation of welding fumes in the working zone is necessary. The present work investigates the characteristics of fume sedimentation in the working zone during arc welding with various covered industrial electrodes. The influence of covering type (rutile

Acid mine drainage samples were collected from the central basin of the Witwatersrand basin in South Africa to study the removal of radioactivity. The samples were analyzed for gross alpha/beta activity, specific radionuclides, metals and anions concentration. The pH of the acid mine drainage samples was then varied and ion-exchange column experiments were carried out to remove radioactivity from acid

Partitioning between soil fractions of Cd added to agricultural soil at 50 and 100 mg kg−1 and its effects on soil respiration and microbial biomass were studied for up to 60 days. Initially, Cd was distributed mostly into the exchangeable and carbonate fractions but decreased in the former fraction within 60 days. Cd pollution resulted in decreased basal and substrate-induced respiration by about

(2019). Eggshell waste as an eco-friendly and low-cost catalyst for the synthesis of α, β-unsaturated compounds. Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry: Vol. 101, No. 9-10, pp. 451-462.

This study aimed to evaluate the protective role of paricalcitol, a vitamin D analog, against hazardous effects of 1800-MHz radiofrequency (RF) radiation on the skin of male Wistar albino rats exposed one h/day for 4 weeks. The maximum specific absorption rate was calculated as 0.0042 W/kg. Superoxide dismutase and catalase activity, collagen bundle thickness, breaking force, energy, and stress were

Glucomannan is a highly branched polysaccharide with glycosidic linkages, constituted of mannoses and glucoses. In recent years, its usefulness due to its immunological, antioxidant and antimutagenic activity has been recognized. The aim of the study was to determine the antigenotoxic ability of glucomannan extracted from Candida utilis orally administered (100–700 mg/kg) to mice, which subsequently

Acrylamide is a highly soluble and widely produced industrial chemical that has been shown to pose numerous health hazards. This study aimed to assess the effects of acrylamide on the cytotoxicity and oxidative damage in embryonic fibroblast cells (BALB/c 3T3) and to measure protective roles of the natural antioxidants vitamin C and curcumin. Embryonic fibroblast cells were exposed to acrylamide at

The use of electronic cigarettes increases as a supposedly healthier form of nicotine consumption, but safety of vaping remains uncertain. In this study, we assessed whether the use of electronic cigarettes increases the risk of infertility in male rats. Malformations of sperm morphology were more frequent in nicotine-exposed groups than in the control group. Vacuolization of seminiferous epithelium

(2019). Statement of Retraction: Consequences of health risk assessment of wastewater irrigation in Pakistan. Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry: Vol. 101, No. 7-8, pp. 433-433.

Due to vast research programmes of industrial countries during the last two decades, our knowledge about the intrinsic properties of nanomaterials has increased considerably. However, ‘nanoregulation’ lags behind this progress. Key elements of nanoregulation are definition/scope and safety/consumer information. Safety information along the nano life-cycle is vital for the nanoparticle producer down

We, the Editors and Publisher of Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry, have retracted the following article: Maria Sabeen, Qaisar Mahmood, Abdol Ghaffar Ebadi, Zulfiqar Ahmad Bhatti, Faridullah, Muhammad Irshad, Allauddin Kakar, Muhammad Bilal, Hafiz Muhammad Arshad and Naeem Shahid, ‘Consequences of health risk assessment of wastewater irrigation in Pakistan Israel Affairs’, Toxicological & Environmental

The lakes of Hanoi are important water resources for urban agriculture. The concentrations of 17α-ethinylestradiol in the water of three major lakes were found to range from 0.1 to 9.1 ng/L, peaking during the rainy season. Effects at levels from 1 ng/L to 1 µg/L on the germination of mung bean (Vigna radiata) and bok choy (Brassica rapa) were studied. Soaking the seeds in solutions containing 17α-ethinylestradiol

Oxidative removal of toluene using copper and cobalt bimetallic catalysts with varying molar ratios supported on sepiolite was investigated. The catalysts prepared by a deposition precipitation method and were characterized using X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption-desorption, field emission scanning electron microscopy, H2-temperature-programmed reduction, transmission electron microscope, and

Acute behavioral and hematological toxicity of ivermectin to C. gariepinus juveniles were assessed under static conditions at concentrations of 9 to 25 µg L−1 for up to 4 days. Juveniles were highly sensitive to ivermectin, with an LC50 of 15 µg L−1, culminating in spasms and paralysis. The hematological responses of packed cell volume, hemoglobin and red blood cell count decreased when compared to

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nano-TiO2) are useful because of their unique physicochemical properties. The wide application of nano-TiO2 has raised concerns regarding its potential threat to organisms and the environment. Therefore, the production and application of nano-TiO2 in the global market is summarized in this paper. This review presents the adverse effects of nano-TiO2 in vivo, including

Carbon-coated magnetic nanoparticles were modified with cationic surfactant and used for the dispersive solid phase extraction of chlorophenols from aqueous samples. Surfactant adsorbed on the surface of the nanoparticles resulted in mixed hemimicelles for high extraction efficiency of chlorophenols. Under optimized conditions, calibration curves were linear from 0.5–20 mg L−1 for analytes with limit

Estrone, 17β-estradiol, 17α-ethynylestradiol, alkylphenols and alkylphenol ethoxylates, are endocrine disruptor compounds. In Portugal, the report of male fish feminization in Minho, Ave and Mondego River estuaries made pertinent their evaluation in surface water samples. Data, got by specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, showed that estrogens concentrations were lower in Minho than in Ave or