bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Observational studies on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance toxicity in marine species: hints for the extrapolation of a screening value
Authors: Miniero Roberto , Brambilla Gianfranco , Maffucci Fulvio , Hochscheid Sandra , Esposito Mauro
Published: January 2025

A statistical procedure has been developed to derive a screening value from an observational study related to the developmental toxicity observed in loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) eggs exposed to long chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). A dataset of 41 nests in which the hatching rate was inversely correlated with the increase in the PFAS concentration in unhatched eggs was processed via a categorical regression approach. After outliers identification and removal, categorical regression analysis tested the relationships of the outcomes with the following parameters: perfluoro-nonanoic (PFNA), decanoic (PFDA), undecanoic (PFUdA), and dodecanoic (PFDoA) acids; perfluoroctansulfonate (PFOS); polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) 28, 52, 101, 138, 153, 180; lead (Pb), total mercury (Hgtot), and cadmium (Cd); and other factors, such as “nest site,” “clutch size,” “incubation duration,” and “nest minimum depth,” as confounders/modifiers of the hatching rate. Among considered contaminants, PFOS, PFDA, and PFNA only were significant (p ˂ 0.05), as were “nest site,” “clutch size,” and “incubation duration,” confirming their possible role in decreasing the hatching rate of sea turtle eggs. According to a chemical-specific visual strategy, PFOS only showed a typical monotonic dose/response curve, which allowed the identification of provisional hypothetical thresholds of PFOS, 1,386 (CI95 = 1,080–1,692) ng/kg, corresponding to average hatching rates of 93.3% (CI95 = 91.4%–95.2%). Our preliminary results indicate the feasibility of the extrapolation of a screening value from observational studies under the following requirements: (a) individuation of most influencing factors for the outcome; (b) datasets referred to baseline contamination; (c) selection of undisturbed nests; (d) appropriate statistical multivariate methodology. This work aims to contribute to the New Approach Methods (NAMs) to assess PFAS early-stage embriotoxicity in marine biota.
Acute-to-chronic ratios of aquatic phototoxicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and the prediction of chronic phototoxicity using the phototoxic target lipid model
Authors: Tillmanns Angeline , Marzooghi Solmaz , Kennedy Christopher J
Published: January 2025

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of organic compounds that can be toxic to aquatic life at environmentally relevant concentrations. The toxicity of some PAHs increases in the presence of ultraviolet radiation (UVR). The phototoxic target lipid model (PTLM) builds on the narcotic target lipid model and predicts acute phototoxicity by accounting for the light absorbed by PAHs. Given the lack of chronic data for PAHs exposed to UVR, an acute-to-chronic ratio (ACR) was proposed as a means for extending this model for predicting chronic toxicity. No information could be found on ACRs derived for phototoxic chemicals and therefore, this study had two objectives: (a) to generate acute and chronic toxicity data with and without exposure to UVR; and (b) to test the ability of the PTLM to predict chronic toxicity using an ACR. Acute and chronic bioassays were conducted on eight species, with each exposed to three PAHs and two light treatments: with and without UVR. Although there was a general trend of higher ACRs in UVR treatments, there was no statistical difference across all species in the ACR values for UVR treatments. Data generated herein were combined with data collated through a literature search to generate a global ACR of 11.6. Twenty of the 24 predicted phototoxic effect concentration affecting 10% of species (EC10) values calculated using the PTLM and ACR were within a factor of 10 of the observed phototoxic EC10 or lethal concentration affecting 5% of species values. This study demonstrates the capability of ACR to be applied in the context of phototoxicity and therefore proposes an unprecedented methodology to predict the chronic phototoxicity of PAHs.
Ancestral bisphenol A exposure led to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and sex-specific alterations in proline and bile metabolism pathways in the liver
Authors: Chakraborty Sourav , Anand Santosh , Numan Muhammad , Bhandari Ramji Kumar
Published: January 2025

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals can induce metabolic alterations, resulting in diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and fatty liver disease, which can be inherited by offspring inhabiting uncontaminated environments. Bisphenol A (BPA), a well-known endocrine disruptor, can induce endocrine disruption, leading to metabolic disorders in subsequent generations without further exposure to BPA via nongenetic transgenerational inheritance. Using medaka as an animal model, we reported that ancestral BPA exposure leads to transgenerational nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in grandchildren four generations after the initial exposure. It is unclear if transgenerational NAFLD developed because ancestral BPA exposure differs from that developed due to direct and continuous BPA exposure because the transgenerational disease develops in the absence of the stressor. We induced transgenerational NAFLD in medaka with ancestral BPA exposure (10 µg/L) at the F0 generation and examined transcriptional and metabolomic alterations in the liver of the F4 generation fish that continued to develop NAFLD. To understand the etiology of NAFLD in unexposed generations, we performed nontargeted liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry-based metabolomic analysis in combination with bulk RNA sequencing and determined biomarkers, co-expressed gene networks, and sex-specific pathways triggered in the liver. An integrated analysis of metabolomic and transcriptional alterations revealed a positive association with the severity of the NAFLD disease phenotype. Females showed increased NAFLD severity and had metabolic disruption involving proline metabolism, tryptophan metabolism, and bile metabolism pathways. The present results provide the transcriptional and metabolomic underpinning of metabolic disruption caused by ancestral BPA exposure, providing avenues for further research to understand the development and progression of transgenerational NAFLD caused by ancestral bisphenol A exposure.
Insight into the molecular initiating event of mutagenic N-nitrosamines: a computational study on DNA alkylation by their diazonium ions
Authors: Cheng Shiyang , Qiu Houjun , Ding Wen , Kong Chuiyuan , Ma Juchen , Hou Runze , Liu Chunsheng , Ji Li
Published: January 2025

N-Nitrosamines are a class of compounds that includes the potent mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of many of its members and is distributed widely throughout the human environment. DNA alkylation by their diazonium ions formed metabolically acts as a molecular initiating event (MIE) that links molecular chemistry to mutagenicity. However, the regiochemistry for diazonium ions reacting with DNA bases is still under debate. Hence, density functional theory calculations involving SN2 alkylation of guanine (Gua) by 14 diverse diazonium ions are presented, the results of which showed the mutagenicity-related shift from GuaN7- to GuaO6-alkylation proceeds by increasing complexity of the alkylating agents, along with a greater proportion of SN1 characteristic in SN2 transition states. Hence, “high oxyphilic” and “low oxyphilic” alkylating agents may instead be “SN1” and “SN2” species, respectively. As the degree of MIE selectivity for hard−hard interactions can be quantified by hard and soft acids and bases theory, quantitative relationships were modeled between the nucleophilic index (ω-) and hydrophobicity (log P) of diazonium ions and their carcinogenic potency. Therefore, the mechanistic link from MIE to target toxicity can be bridged by computational chemistry.
Novel High-Quality Amoeba Genomes Reveal Widespread Codon Usage Mismatch Between Giant Viruses and Their Hosts
Authors: Willemsen Anouk , Manzano-Marín Alejandro , Horn Matthias
Published: January 2025

The need for high-quality protist genomes has prevented in-depth computational and experimental studies of giant virus–host interactions. In addition, our current knowledge of host range is highly biased due to the few hosts used to isolate novel giant viruses. This study presents 6 high-quality amoeba genomes from known and potential giant virus hosts belonging to 2 distinct eukaryotic clades: Amoebozoa and Discoba. We employ their genomic data to investigate the predictability of giant virus host range. Using a combination of long- and short-read sequencing, we obtained highly contiguous and complete genomes of Acanthamoeba castellanii, Acanthamoeba griffini, Acanthamoeba terricola, Naegleria clarki, Vermamoeba vermiformis, and Willaertia magna, contributing to the collection of sequences for the eukaryotic tree of life. We found that the 6 amoebae have distinct codon usage patterns and that, contrary to other virus groups, giant viruses often have different and even opposite codon usage with their known hosts. Conversely, giant viruses with matching codon usage are frequently not known to infect or replicate in these hosts. Interestingly, analyses of integrated viral sequences in the amoeba host genomes reveal potential novel virus–host associations. Matching of codon usage preferences is often used to predict virus–host pairs. However, with the broad-scale analyses performed in this study, we demonstrate that codon usage alone appears to be a poor predictor of host range for giant viruses infecting amoeba. We discuss the potential strategies that giant viruses employ to ensure high viral fitness in nonmatching hosts. Moreover, this study emphasizes the need for more high-quality protist genomes. Finally, the amoeba genomes presented in this study set the stage for future experimental studies to better understand how giant viruses interact with different host species.
Prediction of ground motion intensity measures using support vector machine in analysing spatial correlation
Authors: Wen Pan , Zhou Baofeng , Bi Xirong
Published: January 2025

Regional seismic risk assessments or engineering applications generally require the simultaneous estimation of ground motion intensity measures (IMs) at multiple stations. Spatial correlation plays a crucial role in characterizing the spatial distribution of IMs, typically as a function of the spatial separation distance. Previous studies using measured recordings have suggested that spatial correlation is additionally influenced by variations in site conditions or other earthquake parameters in the study regions. In this study, a machine learning method comprising multiple parameter inputs, called a support vector machine (SVM), is proposed to estimate the IMs of ground motions. This SVM model can inherit variations in the site conditions and earthquake information of the study region. Meanwhile, the generalization ability of the SVM model behaved distinctly, with a high similarity in the standard deviation between the training and test databases. Geostatistical analysis was performed to generate the spatial correlation of the IMs by introducing the SVM model. Considering the heterogeneous characteristics of the study region, the spatial correlation using the SVM model showed relatively low values, particularly for small separation distances and short periods, that is consistent with the results of previous studies. Finally, considering the high similarity of IMs at small separation distances (for example, less than 1 km in this study), the correlation was observed to be unsuitable for describing the spatial distribution of ground motion IMs at a small scale.
Sustainability and Risk Management under the Digital Services Act: A Touchstone for the Interpretation of ‘Systemic Risks’
Authors: Kaesling Katharina , Wolf Annegret
Published: January 2025

The Digital Services Act (DSA) obliges very large online platforms and online search engines to identify, analyse and assess ‘systemic risks’ stemming from the design or functioning of their service and its related systems, including algorithmic systems, or from the use made of their services. This contribution develops the definition of the relevant ‘system’ and applies it to the unlisted risks related to sustainability, thus answering the questions: What system does the term ‘systemic risk’ refer to? When is an unlisted risk a systemic risk? Are risks in the context of sustainability systemic risks within that meaning?
RGB sensor integrated into unmanned aerial vehicle for monitoring cyanobacterial density in reservoirs
Authors: da Silva Will Jones Moura Soares , Farias Alex Bruno da Silva , Nery Janiele França , Silva Emanuel Araújo , Molica Renato José Reis
Published: January 2025

The proliferation of cyanobacteria has become a significant water management challenge due to the increasing eutrophication of water supply reservoirs. Cyanobacterial blooms thrive on elevated nutrient concentrations and form extensive green mats, disrupting the local ecosystem. Furthermore, many cyanobacterial species can produce toxins that are lethal to vertebrates called cyanotoxins. Traditional monitoring methods are inefficient for assessing water quality in reservoirs as a whole, given that sampling is only carried out in the catchment area for the public water supply, which exposes the population to the risk of contamination due to the multiple uses of these reservoirs. Therefore, novel monitoring methods supported by recent technological advances, such as the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are being tested for their effectiveness in monitoring cyanobacterial densities in aquatic ecosystems. This study analyzed UAV images of two water supply reservoirs to assess the effectiveness in monitoring cyanobacterial density. The UAVs were equipped with RGB sensors and flew over the study areas on the same day and at the same locations as water sampling performed for the determination of phytoplankton density, biovolume and chlorophyll-a. The phytoplankton community was dominated by cyanobacteria in both reservoirs. High coefficients of determination were obtained in the predictive models for chlorophyll-a concentration (r2 = 0.92), total phytoplankton and cyanobacterial densities (r2 = 0.89 and r2 = 0.97, respectively), and total phytoplankton and cyanobacterial biovolumes (r2 = 0.96 for both). Applying the predictive models to the orthomosaics generated from the UAV RGB images enabled the visualization of the spatial distribution of the phytoplankton and cyanobacterial biomass through distribution maps. This method has potential application in the management of water bodies that are crucial to the public water supply.
Review of Indian studies on environmental impact assessment
Authors: Kritika  , Sharma Anjali
Published: January 2025

Environmental clearance in India is a legal instrument that determines potential environmental implication of organized projects in India. It entails an assessment of sensitive projects, focal points, and proposals that have potential and likely effects on social, environmental, and economic matters before they are commenced. The intended goal of this procedure is to detect negative effects on local societies, the environment in this case, so as to foster sustainable development. In India, environmental impact assessment (EIA) is governed by the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and EIA Notification, 2006, that outline how and what EIAs should be prepared for different projects. Subsequent research has been executed on various aspects of EIA in a bid to improve the utility of the assessment tool in the Indian environment. This article provides a rigorous synthesis of existing literature on the subject of EIA in the context of India. A total of 47 research papers related to the subject were retrieved and subjected to a rigorous analysis through the PRISMA method. The objectives of the research are (1) to assess existing literature for the effectiveness of EIA processes in different contexts and identify gaps or areas for improvement; (2) to compile and synthesize findings from various studies to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of EIA research in India; (3) to identify patterns and indicators across different studies; (4) to analyze the evolution of environmental policies related to EIA in India and assess their impact; and (5) to provide recommendations for future research directions, policy enhancements, and practical improvements in the EIA process in India based on the synthesized findings. These summaries the comprehensive characteristic of the EIA studies related to India that might be useful for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners engaged in environmental management and sustainable development interventions in India.
Regulatory issues surrounding the management of selenium—introduction to a special series of papers
Authors: Gilron Guy , Palace Vince
Published: January 2025

Selenium (Se) is a naturally occurring metalloid in soils and rocks that is released by weathering processes; it is also enriched by some anthropogenic activities, including mining and agriculture. The mechanism of Se aquatic toxicity has been understood for several decades; at elevated concentrations, dietary Se can accumulate in maternal tissues of fish and birds, become deposited into their eggs, and can potentially result in impaired embryological development. North American environmental regulations have acknowledged differences in species sensitivity and variation among aquatic environments (i.e., lentic and lotic) that influence Se toxicity. The above subjects were thoroughly reviewed in a state-of-science SETAC Pellston workshop and book, entitled Ecological assessment of selenium in the aquatic environment, published in 2010. Since the publication of that book, regulatory guidance in North America has evolved further to enhance the protection of aquatic life exposed to Se. This IEAM special series entitled “Regulatory issues surrounding the management of selenium” is a compilation of recent research and reviews from North American experts addressing critical environmental, physiological, and operational factors warranting consideration in support of Se regulatory frameworks.
The European regulatory system for plant protection products—cause of a “Silent Spring” or highly advanced and protective?
Authors: Schriever Carola , Jene Bernhard , Resseler Herbert , Spatz Robert , Sur Robin , Weyers Arnd , Winter Mark
Published: January 2025

Current publications that are shaping public perception repeatedly claim that residues of plant protection products (PPP) in the environment demonstrate gaps in assessing the exposure and effects of PPP, allegedly revealing the inability of the European regulatory system to prevent environmental contamination and damage such as biodiversity decline. The hypothesis is that environmental risk assessments rely on inappropriate predictive models that underestimate exposure and do not explicitly account for the impact of combinations of environmental stressors and physiological differences in stress responses. This article puts this criticism into context to allow for a more balanced evaluation of the European regulatory system for PPP. There is broad consensus that the decline in biodiversity is real. This article analyzed current literature for causes of this decline and of chemical contamination. The main drivers identified were land use changes and structural uniformity of agricultural landscapes or multiple contaminants emitted by various sources such as wastewater discharge systems. Comparing measured environmental concentrations from published monitoring studies with exposure predictions from the regulatory risk assessment reveals only slight occasional exceedances for a few environmental scenarios and compounds. Therefore, the call for greater conservatism in the European authorization process for PPPs will not lead to an improvement in the environmental situation. We suggest enhancing landscape diversity through the European Union Common Agricultural Policy and reducing contamination from wastewater and farmyard effluents. The current regulatory risk management toolbox should be expanded to include flexible localized mitigation measures and treatment options to reduce applied amounts and off-target exposure.
Integrating ex situ biomimetic extraction analyses into contaminated sediment assessment and management decisions
Authors: Parkerton Thomas F , Redman Aaron D , Letinski Daniel J , Rakowska Magdalena I , Reible Danny D
Published: January 2025

This study evaluated a novel ex situ passive sampling biomimetic extraction (BE) method to estimate toxic potency in sediments. Gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID) analysis of polydimethylsiloxane fibers equilibrated with field sediments was used to quantify bioavailable polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and other unresolved, site-specific contaminant mixtures. This method is biomimetic because contaminants partition to the fiber based on hydrophobicity and abundance, and GC-FID quantification accounts for all constituents absorbed to the fiber that may contribute to toxicity. This measurement was compared with conventional approaches that rely on bulk sediment or porewater measurements of a targeted suite of PAHs. The specific objectives of the study were to (1) describe the BE method and explain measurement translation into toxic units (TUs); (2) report sediment BE data collected across 17 diverse field sites; (3) compare TUs predicted from (i) equilibrium partitioning (EqP) calculations based on sediment total organic carbon and bulk PAH chemistry, (ii) PAH porewater concentrations derived using ex situ passive sampling, and (iii) BE concentrations; and (4) discuss implications of this analysis for benthic toxicity assessment. Results showed that TUs obtained from EqP calculations were typically 10× higher than TUs derived from measured porewater PAH concentrations, indicating reduced PAH bioavailability in field sediments. Toxic units derived using the new BE method were more conservative than EqP in one-third of the sediments investigated, which was attributed to unquantified sediment contaminants, possible fiber fouling in the more contaminated sediments, and potential background interferences in less contaminated sediments. Preliminary data are also presented, showing that fluorometric analysis provides a simpler, promising alternative for estimating sediment BE concentrations. Based on this analysis, a decision-support framework is proposed using EqP and BE based TU metrics. Future research priorities are described for supporting framework implementation and extending use of BE analyses to remedial design and monitoring.
Assessment of blue and green agricultural water footprint in the Gaza Strip, Palestine
Authors: Mizyed Amjad , Mogheir Yunes , Hamada Mazen
Published: January 2025

The water system in the Gaza Strip is deteriorating as the agricultural sector consumes more than 50% of the available water. There is an urgent need for effective tools that rationalize agricultural water consumption. The concept of the blue and green water footprint (WF) was applied to determine the actual water consumption of all crops in the Gaza Strip and evaluate the sustainability of the agricultural water footprint. The CROPWAT 8.0 model was used to calculate the crop water requirements (CWR) and estimate evapotranspiration (ET) according to the Hoekstra manual. The results show that the blue water footprint of crops was 82.15 mm3 distributed among 59.4 mm3 of horticulture trees, 3.65 mm3 of field crops, and 19.2 mm3 of vegetables whereas the green water footprint was 33.82 mm3. The main insight is that the water footprint's sustainability reflects a serious indicator of the depletion of blue water in the Gaza Strip and if WF is applied, 40 mm3 of water can be saved annually, which constitutes 33% less than the current usage. It is promising to use the water footprint concept as a distinct tool in supporting the decision-maker to reduce water consumption and enhance water resource sustainability.
Quantifying the economic impact: a methodological approach to estimate soil pollution costs in Luxembourg
Authors: Espinoza-Tofalos Anna , Fourvel Gaëtan , Tock Pol , Biwer Arno
Published: January 2025

Soil provides fundamental life-support services without which human civilizations would cease to thrive. Soil ecosystem services offer both direct and indirect use values. Indirectly, soil benefits society by ensuring public health and well-being while directly serving as a crucial production factor in agriculture, forestry, and settlement spaces, thereby conferring monetary value to land. Furthermore, soil holds nonuse value, reflecting its societal heritage. Soil pollution, a form of soil degradation, disrupts soil properties and functions, thereby impairing the ecosystem services provided and resulting in economic costs for society. Although the cost of soil pollution is likely substantial, there is no consensus on a methodology for estimating it. One approach involves quantifying the loss of value from degraded soil ecosystem services, but this is impractical due to insufficient knowledge of the quantitative relationships between soil properties, ecosystem services, and their economic values. An alternative concept consists of defining an exhaustive list of cost types induced by soil pollution and valuing them. This study proposes a novel staged methodology based on this concept. It leverages real field data and extrapolates findings to the national level in Luxembourg, making it replicable for any country, provided the necessary data are available. According to the methodology developed, the annual cost of soil pollution in Luxembourg would range from 85 to 149 million euros. This initial estimation, although cautious due to uncertainties such as limited field data affecting national representativeness and the focus on point source soil pollution, offers a promising starting point for understanding the economic impact of soil pollution. This practical application will provide valuable insights into the economic effects of polluted sites, aiding policymakers in devising strategies to mitigate these costs and enhance land management practices.
Metal-rich lacustrine sediments from legacy mining perpetuate copper exposure to aquatic-riparian food webs
Authors: Perrotta Brittany G , Kidd Karen A , Campbell Kate M , Croteau Marie-Noële , Kane Tyler J , Marcarelli Amy M , McCleskey R Blaine , Paterson Gordon , Stricker Craig A , Walters David M
Published: January 2025

Historic copper mining left a legacy of metal-rich tailings resulting in ecological impacts along and within Torch Lake, an area of concern in the Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan, USA. Given the toxicity of copper to invertebrates, this study assessed the influence of this legacy on present day nearshore aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. We measured the metal (Co, Cu, Ni, Zn, Cd) and metalloid (As) concentrations in sediment, pore water, surface water, larval and adult insects, and two riparian spider taxa collected from Torch Lake and a nearby reference lake. Overall, elevated metal and metalloid concentrations, particularly Cu, were measured in all sediment samples and some surface and pore water samples collected from Torch Lake. For instance, Cu concentrations in the Torch Lake sediment were ∼200% higher than the reference lake and all measured concentrations exceeded predicted effects concentrations by at least ninefold. Within larval insect tissues, we observed 160% higher Cu concentrations than measured in the reference lake, and Cu was the only measured element above predicted effects concentrations in Torch Lake. Adult insects collected at both lakes had similar metal concentrations irrespective of exposure levels. Yet we found 100% higher copper concentrations in Torch Lake riparian spiders, demonstrating elevated exposure risk to insectivores across the aquatic-terrestrial boundary. Our results highlight that other metals in the mixture may not be as concerning to adjacent riparian ecosystems, but copper remains a contaminant of concern in Torch Lake 60 years after mining ceased.
Guidance for measuring and evaluating biomagnification factors and trophic magnification factors of difficult substances: application to decabromodiphenylethane
Authors: Fremlin Kate M , Elliott John E , Gobas Frank A P C
Published: January 2025

As field based trophic magnification factors (TMFs) and biomagnification factors (BMFs) become more prominent regulatory metrics used in bioaccumulation assessments of commercial chemicals, there is a need to develop standardized guidelines for conducting field-based bioaccumulation studies and to establish methods using weight of evidence analyses of those studies. Hence, the primary objectives of this study were (1) to compile a set of comprehensive criteria and guidelines for conducting field-based biomagnification studies and (2) to develop a weight of evidence meta-analysis for evaluating field-based biomagnification studies and their reported biomagnification metrics for assessing the biomagnification potential of substances. To test the effectiveness of our proposed guidelines and weight of evidence meta-analysis, we reviewed over 25 field studies investigating the biomagnification of decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), a substance that is considered super-hydrophobic and difficult to test in bioconcentration tests. Approximately half of the field studies that investigated trophic magnification of DBDPE in food webs or biomagnification of DBDPE in predator-prey interactions were considered of acceptable quality, whereas no studies were of high quality. Quality scores of studies statistically decreased with increasing TMF (r2 = 0.261, p = .035) and/or BMF (r2 = 0.238, p = .0024). The weight of evidence meta-analysis indicated with a high level of confidence that concentrations of DBDPE do not biomagnify in top predators and within food-webs. Given the increasing importance of the TMF and BMF for bioaccumulation assessments and the apparent deficiencies in current biomagnification studies identified in this meta-analysis for DBDPE, there is an urgent need to adopt standardized guidelines and procedures for both conducting and evaluating field-based biomagnification studies.
Rhamnolipid: nature-based solution for the removal of microplastics from the aquatic environment
Authors: Sönmez Vildan Zülal , Akarsu Ceyhun , Sivri Nüket
Published: January 2025

Over the past two decades, research into the accumulation of small plastic particles and fibers in organisms and environmental settings has yielded over 7,000 studies, highlighting the widespread presence of microplastics in ecosystems, wildlife, and human bodies. In recent years, these contaminants have posed a significant threat to human, animal, and environmental health, with most efforts concentrated on removing them from aquatic systems. Given this urgency, the purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of rhamnolipid, a biosurfactant, for the removal of microplastics from water. Specifically, this study evaluates the effects of water matrix, initial pH of the solution (7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 8.5, 9.0, 9.5, and 10.0), concentrations of alum (5, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 mg/L), and concentrations of rhamnolipid (1, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, and 100 mg/L). Optimum removal was achieved at alum and rhamnolipid concentrations of 5.0 mg/L and 1.0 mg/L, respectively, with a solution pH of 8.0. In both types of water tested, a removal efficiency of about 74% was determined, indicating the potential of rhamnolipid as a nature-based solution to control microplastic pollution in surface waters.
Nanotubular clay minerals for simultaneous sorption of pesticides and PFCAs: a molecular simulation study
Authors: Gianni Eleni , Scholtzová Eva , Tyrologou Pavlos , Couto Nazaré , Pospíšil Miroslav , Papoulis Dimitrios , Koukouzas Nikolaos
Published: January 2025

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and herbicides are important persistent contaminants that require specific management. A variety of herbicides is stored in fluorinated containers in the form of aquatic solutions. In such environments, the simultaneous release of PFAS and herbicides takes place. Nature-based solutions, such as the use of clay materials as possible sorbents, are attractive for the immobilization of such contaminants and environmental protection. Nanotubular clay minerals, such as halloysite and imogolite, are sufficient sorbents for herbicides. Due to their structural morphology, such materials could be efficient sorbents for the simultaneous immobilization of PFAS and herbicides. In this study, the potential sorption of a short chain PFAS, perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), sorbent of PFBA, and herbicides (atrazine and diuron) were investigated. Forcefield calculations were used for the classical molecular simulation study. Different distributions, arrangements, and ratios of the investigated molecules were investigated for the complete structural and energy characterization of the systems. Both clay minerals created stable complexes with PFBA as well as with both PFBA and herbicide molecules. Halloysite mineral led to similar total energies of the system with sorbed PFBA molecules alone, herbicides alone, or both of the pollutants. In contrast, imogolite led to lower energies with sorbed herbicides and showed relatively higher energies when interacting with PFBA. The complexes with both of the pollutants presented moderate energies. Electrostatic interactions were dominant in all the investigated complexes.
Integrating population-level effects into the regulatory assessment of endocrine disrupting substances
Authors: Hazlerigg Charles R E , Tagliati Alice , Forbes Valery E , Gergs Andre , Hallmark Nina , Maltby Lorraine , Weltje Lennart , Wheeler James R
Published: January 2025

Population modeling, field studies, and monitoring approaches have all been proposed for assessing the relevance of adverse effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) at the population level for nontarget (wild) vertebrates, but how these approaches should be used in the regulatory hazard assessment is unclear and not detailed in the relevant European Guidance Document. A literature review focused on identifying published approaches assessing the population relevance of adverse effects from EDCs was performed, and, subsequently, 47 primary research papers were evaluated. By extracting from these sources, a novel approach was developed with guiding principles for assessing adverse effects of EDCs at the population level considering (i) choice of focal species, scenarios (and models), (ii) the individual level apical endpoints to be considered, (iii) the magnitude of effect to be imposed, (iv) for what duration effects should be imposed, (v) whether individuals repairing the damage from exposure should be included, (vi) the population-level endpoints to be considered, and (vii) what threshold to set for defining an adverse effect at this level. Recommendations for modeling and field and monitoring studies are included. Case studies are also presented to demonstrate how the proposed approach might be implemented. Although some aspects (e.g., choice of focal species, model/experimental scenario, monitoring study assessment) require further consideration, this should not prevent the use of this approach in a regulatory EDC assessment context. As such, we propose that the approach be used immediately to implement population modeling and perform field studies within this regulatory context. We envisage that consistent application of these principles will encourage regulatory developments in this critical area to provide a much needed level of clarity in the EDC assessment for all stakeholders.
Global advances and innovations in bacteria-based biosorption for heavy metal remediation: a bibliometric and analytical perspective
Authors: Syarifuddin Syarifuddin , Suryani Sri , Tahir Dahlang
Published: January 2025

Industrialization and urbanization have significantly escalated the discharge of heavy metals into aquatic environments, posing serious ecological and public health risks. This study explores the global research landscape of bacterial biosorption for heavy metal removal, emphasizing advancements in methodologies and technologies that have redefined this field. A bibliometric analysis of 298 publications (1987–2024) was conducted to identify key trends, collaboration networks, and innovations. Notable advancements include the integration of nanotechnology, which has enhanced adsorption efficiency and selectivity for specific metals, and genetic engineering approaches that optimize bacterial strains for higher adsorption capacity. Furthermore, these developments have transformed traditional remediation strategies by providing cost-effective, sustainable, and scalable solutions for industries such as textiles, mining, and energy production. This study underscores the practical relevance of bacterial biosorption in wastewater treatment, achieving removal efficiencies exceeding 99% in some cases, as demonstrated by Aspergillus versicolor and Shewanella oneidensis MR-1. By bridging scientific innovation with environmental sustainability, this research highlights bacterial biosorption as a pivotal green technology, offering actionable insights for industrial applications and global sustainability goals.
Aging oocytes: exploring apoptosis and its impact on embryonic development in common carp (Cyprinus carpio)
Authors: Konar Essaikiammal Sodalai Muthu , Brachs Sebastian , Mai Knut , Waghmare Swapnil Gorakh , Policar Tomas , Samarin Azadeh Mohagheghi , Samarin Azin Mohagheghi
Published: January 2025

Ovulation, fertilization, and embryo development are orchestrated and synchronized processes essential for the optimal health of offspring. Postovulatory aging disrupts this synchronization and impairs oocyte quality. In addition, oocyte aging causes fertilization loss and poor embryo development. This investigation aimed to unravel the endpoint of in vitro oocyte aging in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) to understand the involvement of apoptosis in postovulatory oocyte death. It was observed that the fertilization ability significantly declined (P < 0.001) at 8-h poststripping (HPS), subsequently triggering apoptosis in the advanced stage of oocyte aging, i.e., 48 HPS. This process included an increase in proapoptotic transcripts (fas, bax, cathepsin D, caspase 8, caspase 9, and caspase 3a) (P < 0.05), elevated levels of caspase 3 protein (P < 0.05), and activation of caspase 3 enzyme (P < 0.001), a key player in apoptosis, in aging oocytes. Furthermore, the effects of oocyte aging on the embryonic apoptosis machinery were examined in embryos at 5-h postfertilization (HPF) and 24 HPF derived from fresh and aged oocytes. Expression of apoptotic genes and caspase enzyme activity remained at the basal level in 5 HPF (early blastula embryos) from both fresh and aged oocytes. In contrast, the zymogenic and active forms of caspase 3 increased in 24 HPF embryos from 8-h-aged oocytes (P < 0.01) compared with those from fresh oocytes. Thus, apoptosis intensified in 24 HPF embryos from aged oocytes without affecting the apoptotic machinery of early blastula embryos. Our findings demonstrate that apoptosis initiated by the Fas/FasL system is an important physiological process accompanying oocyte aging in common carp.
Production of non-triple-helical collagen polypeptides under hypoxia and the implication for tumour
Authors: Sekine Kosuke , Tokunaka Kazuhiro , Tomura Arihiro , Sugihara Hidemitsu , Saijo Yuki , Shin Yongchol , Hayashi Toshihiko , Morita Makoto , Imamura Yasutada
Published: January 2025

Non-triple-helical collagen polypeptides (NTHs) are alternative gene products lacking the typical collagen triple-helical structure. This study investigated NTH production in tumour cells and tissues. NTH α1(IV) was detected in various human tumour cell lines and extracted from human lung cancer tissues and tumours in mice. NTH production was significantly affected by serum concentration and occurred under hypoxic or hypoxia-mimetic conditions, even with sufficient ascorbic acid. This suggests NTHs are produced under physiological hypoxia, potentially contributing to tumour angiogenesis. NTH production generally coincided with hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) accumulation, except with cobalt chloride, indicating HIF-1α is not directly involved in NTH α1(IV) production. NTH electrophoretic mobility on SDS-PAGE was higher under hypoxia or deferoxamine treatment, likely due to suppressed lysyl hydroxylase 3 activity. This study demonstrates NTH production in tumour cells and tissues under hypoxia, suggesting their association with tumour angiogenesis and potential as therapeutic targets.
Prevalence of Alcohol Exposure in Burns-related Injuries
Authors: Orda Kathrin , Lau Georgina , Tracy Lincoln M , Mitra Biswadev
Published: January 2025

The aim of this registry-based cohort study was to quantify the prevalence, injury characteristics, and outcomes of alcohol exposure in burn-related injuries. All patients ≥ 18 years presenting to The Alfred Emergency & Trauma Centre, a major trauma center in Victoria, Australia, between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2022 and recorded in the Victorian Adult Burns Service registry were included. An explicit chart review was performed to verify retrieved data, with alcohol exposure coded when documented in medical records, laboratory evidence of a blood alcohol concentration > 2 mmol/L, or recorded in discharge ICD-10-AM codes. Among 1587 eligible patients, 251 (15.8%) had been exposed to alcohol prior to injury. Patients with alcohol exposure at the time of burn-related injury had higher rates of admission to the intensive care unit (28% vs 16.4%, P < .001) and longer median hospital admission (10.1 vs 7.7 days, P < .001). The significant impact of alcohol exposure on the overall health burden of burn injuries highlights the need for standardized and robust alcohol testing protocols to support targeted strategies to reduce the burden of alcohol-related burn injuries.
The human rights obligations of belligerent occupiers: Israel and the Gazan population
Authors: Bantekas Ilias , Jaber Safaa S
Published: January 2025

Following the Israeli disengagement from the Gaza Strip in 2005, the Israeli government declared that it was no longer an occupant. Even so, it redeployed its forces throughout the Strip’s external border, with entry and exit therefrom being wholly controlled by Israel’s Defense Forces. In 2024, the International Court of Justice issued an Advisory Opinion whereby it declared, among others, that Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem have been under continuous belligerent occupation that was moreover illegal. The Advisory Opinion thus confirmed that, despite Israeli statements to the contrary, it continues to be the occupying power of Gaza due to its effective control, notwithstanding physical military presence. As an occupant asserting effective control over Gaza, in addition to having an obligation to provide humanitarian guarantees under international humanitarian law to the civilian population in Gaza, Israel has a duty to provide fundamental human rights (HR) under international human rights law. Even if Israel were not considered an occupant of the territory, the amount of Israeli control over the Strip would certainly trigger the extraterritorial application of HR treaties and the full gamut of cascading obligations inherent therein.
Weight-bearing CT as an approach to assess femoral–acetabular displacement during external rotation stress in the hip
Authors: Rivas Dominic J. L , Gassmann Joshua M , Goetz Jessica E , Aitken Holly D , Davison John C , Miller Aspen , Willey Michael C
Published: January 2025

Hip dysplasia causes pathologic joint mechanics and can produce hip instability, leading to progressive joint degeneration and osteoarthritis. Weight-bearing computed tomography (WBCT) is an emerging technology that may enable quantification of femoral–acetabular displacement as an objective indicator of instability. To evaluate this potential, 10 patients indicated for periacetabular osteotomy to treat hip dysplasia and 10 healthy controls underwent two WBCT protocols. Participants were scanned in a neutral stance [weight-bearing (WB)] and again with the hip stressed in maximal external rotation (WB-stress), a position hypothesized to reproduce anterior instability. Clinical, nonweight-bearing computed tomography (CT) scans were available for patients with hip dysplasia. Congruency of the femoroacetabular joint space and position of the femoral head in the acetabulum were quantified via multiple 2D manual measurements and automated 3D measurements. There were no 2D measurements found to differ between the WB and WB-stress scans in either dysplastic (P = .742–1.000) or control (P = .203–1.000) hips. 3D translation of the femoral head center from WB to WB-stress averaged 1.3 ± 0.6 mm in the control hips, compared to 0.9 ± 0.4 mm in the dysplastic hips (P = .096). 3D joint space width (JSW) was determined for both the control and dysplastic hips, with greater JSW found in control hips for both the WB (P = .049) and WB-stress (P = .003) scans. WBCT has the potential to better capture subtle femoral–acetabular displacement derived from both automated 3D and manual 2D measurements in static instability-prone joint orientations.
Association of radiation-induced normal tissue toxicity with a high genetic risk for rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: McWilliam Alan , Marshall Deborah , Kerns Sarah L , Barnett Gillian C , Vega Ana , Kapouranis Thodori , Aguado Barrera Miguel E , Avuzzi Barbara , Azria David , Chang-Claude Jenny , Choudhury Ananya , Coedo Costa Carla , Dunning Alison , Farcy-Jacquet Marie-Pierre , Faivre-Finn Corinne , Gutiérrez-Enríquez Sara , Fuentes-Ríos Olivia , Gómez Caamaño Antonio , Lambrecht Maarten , López Pleguezuelos Carlos , Rancati Tiziana , Rattay Tim , de Ruysscher Dirk , Seibold Petra , Sperk Elena , Talbot Christopher , Webb Adam , Veldeman Liv , Rosenstein Barry S , West Catharine M L ,   REQUITE Consortium, Stegmaier P , Claßen J , Schnabel T , Müller Anusha , Helmbold Irmgard , Elliott Rebecca
Published: January 2025

Background

Overlapping genes are involved with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and DNA repair pathways. Therefore, we hypothesized that patients with a high polygenic risk score for RA will have an increased risk of radiotherapy toxicity given the involvement of DNA repair.

Methods

Primary analysis was performed on 1494 prostate cancer, 483 lung cancer, and 1820 breast cancer patients assessed for development of radiotherapy toxicity in the REQUITE (validating pREdictive models and biomarkers of radiotherapy toxicity to reduce side effects and improve QUalITy of lifE in cancer survivors) study. Validation cohorts were available from the Radiogenomics Consortium. All patients had undergone curative-intent radiotherapy and were assessed prospectively for toxicity. Germline genomic data was available for all patients, allowing a polygenic risk score to be calculated using 101 RA risk variants. Polygenic risk score was analyzed as a continuous variable and with a more than 90th percentile cutoff. Associations with acute and late standardized total average toxicity (STAT) scores and individual toxicity endpoints were analyzed in multivariable models with preselected adjustment variables.

Results

Increasing polygenic risk score for RA did not increase the risk of STAT-acute or STAT-late in any cohort. There was an increased risk of late esophagitis in the lung cancer cohort (coefficient = 0.018, P = .01), however this was not validated (P = .79). No individual acute or late toxicity endpoints were statistically significantly associated with polygenic risk score for the prostate or breast cohorts. No statistically significant results were found in the validation cohorts in multivariable models.

Conclusions

Patients with a high genetic risk for RA do not show increased levels of toxicity after radiotherapy suggesting treatment planning does not need to be modified for such patients.