Fate, Toxicity, Detection and Risk Assessment of Toxins and Contaminants in Environment and Ecosystems

A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737). This special issue belongs to the section "Toxicology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2022) | Viewed by 6869

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Institute of Nuclear and Agricultural Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Interests: radioactive tracing; environmental fate and toxicity of agrochemicals and contaminants; environmental biophysics; ecosystems; human health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Institute of Nuclear and Agricultural Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Interests: environmental science; nanotoxicology; isotopic tracing; organic synthesis; nuclear and radiochemistry
College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Interests: innovative agriculture; novel agricultural product development; agricultural application of nuclear technology; whole grains; lipids; proteins; flavour; food processing; food nutrition and health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

With the rapid growth of the world’s population and changing of the environment, more and more concerns have been paid to the adverse effects of emerging environmental toxins and contaminants on ecology and human health. Emerging contaminants represent a global environmental issue due to their potential ecological toxicity or transformation products. These emerging toxins and contaminants mainly include pharmaceuticals, personal care products, micro/nano plastics, nanoparticles, antibiotics, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, persistent organic pollutants, disinfection by-products, pesticide, etc. For instance, many of the current studies have focused on the influence of microplastics on the ecosystem, as well as features such as their toxicity, characterization, and interaction with microorganisms and/or other contaminants. However, further knowledge, especially the toxicological assessment, is required to assess risks brought about by various emerging toxins and contaminants to the environment and human health.

The aim of this Special Issue is to understand the fate, toxicity, detection, and health risks of toxins in ecosystems. In this case, new technologies and advanced analytical techniques are remarkably important to necessitate the detection and evaluation of toxins and contaminants. Such an overview is likely to stimulate the opinions of environmentalists and ecologists on what remains to be discovered and eventually promote the development of clean and safe materials, new technologies, health, and global cooperation. This Special Issue will therefore include the following specific topics:

  • Advanced analytical techniques for emerging toxins and contaminants;
  • The fate, distribution, and transformation of emerging contaminants in environment;
  • Uptake, translocation, and metabolism of toxins and contaminants in ecosystems such as plant and aquatic ecosystems;
  • New materials that may potentially lower the risk and adverse effects of emerging toxins and contaminants on the environment and human health;
  • Risk assessment associated with the emerging toxins and contaminants.

Prof. Dr. Haiyan Wang
Dr. Lei Xu
Dr. Zhen Yang
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • toxicology
  • ecotoxicity
  • contaminants
  • new technologies
  • risk assessment
  • health

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 2601 KiB  
Article
Heavy Metals in Four Marine Fish and Shrimp Species from a Subtropical Coastal Area: Accumulation and Consumer Health Risk Assessment
by Mohammad Belal Hossain, Nurer Zaman Bhuiyan, Abul Kasem, Md. Kamal Hossain, Salma Sultana, As-Ad Ujjaman Nur, Jimmy Yu, Mohammed Fahad Albeshr and Takaomi Arai
Biology 2022, 11(12), 1780; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11121780 - 7 Dec 2022
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4098
Abstract
Trace-element or heavy-metal pollution has emerged as a serious concern in terms of both environmental and human health issues. This study measured six trace and toxic heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, Cu, and Zn) in four marine fish and shrimp species to [...] Read more.
Trace-element or heavy-metal pollution has emerged as a serious concern in terms of both environmental and human health issues. This study measured six trace and toxic heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, Cu, and Zn) in four marine fish and shrimp species to assess their accumulation levels and evaluate the risks to human health. The mean concentrations of the metals in fish and shrimp species (Labeo bata, Sillaginopsis panijus, Platycepalus fuscus, and Penaeus monodon) followed the decreasing order of Zn (40.8 ± 9.7 μg/g) > Cu (17.8 ± 7.1 μg/g) > Pb (6.2 ± 1.8 μg/g) > Ni (0.4 ± 0.3 μg/g) > Cd (0.06 ± 0.02 μg/g > Cr (below detection level). Among the metals, only Pb in finfish and Pb, Cu, and Zn in shrimp samples exceeded the national recommended limits, representing possible risks to consumers. The mean metal concentrations in the studied fish/shrimp species followed the descending order of P. monodon > S. panijus > P. fuscus > L. bata, which implies that bottom dwellers and omnivores had higher levels of metals. However, the estimated daily intake (EDI) concentrations of Zn and Cu for the studied species were lower than the RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance). In addition, the Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) and hazard index (HI or TTHQ) values for all species were < 1, indicating that consumers might not experience carcinogenic health risks. A strong significant (p < 0.05) correlation between Cu and Pb (r = 0.623) and Zn and Cu (r = −0.871) indicated they were from the same source of origin. Cluster analysis (CA) and principal component analysis (PCA) demonstrated possible anthropogenic sources of toxic metals in the study area, specifically industrial wastes and agricultural chemicals. Full article
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23 pages, 4861 KiB  
Article
Modulation Effects of Eugenol on Nephrotoxicity Triggered by Silver Nanoparticles in Adult Rats
by Hanaa R. Aboelwafa, Ramadan A. Ramadan, Somaya S. Ibraheim and Hany N. Yousef
Biology 2022, 11(12), 1719; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11121719 - 27 Nov 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2154
Abstract
The use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is expanding. This study evaluates the modulator effect of eugenol (Eug) on AgNP-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Sixty male rats were separated into six groups: control, Eug, AgNPs low-dose, AgNPs high-dose, Eug + AgNPs low-dose, and Eug + [...] Read more.
The use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is expanding. This study evaluates the modulator effect of eugenol (Eug) on AgNP-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Sixty male rats were separated into six groups: control, Eug, AgNPs low-dose, AgNPs high-dose, Eug + AgNPs low-dose, and Eug + AgNPs high-dose. After 30 days, kidney function, antioxidative and proinflammatory status, histopathological, histomorphometrical, and immunohistochemical assessments were performed. AgNPs markedly induced oxidative stress in renal tissues, characterized by increased levels of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, uric acid, kidney injury molecule-1, the total oxidant capacity, malondialdehyde, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-6, as well as decreased levels of the total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase, catalase, reduced glutathione, and glutathione peroxidase. Moreover, the normal renal architecture was destroyed, and the thickness of the renal capsules, cortex, and medulla, alongside the diameter and quantity of the normal Malpighian corpuscles and the proximal and distal convoluted tubules were decreased. Immunoreactivity for P53, caspase-3, and TNF-α reactive proteins were significantly increased; however, Bcl-2 immunoreactivity was decreased. Eug reversed most biochemical, histological, histomorphometrical, and immunohistochemical changes in AgNP-treated animals. This study demonstrated that nephrotoxicity in AgNP-treated rats was mitigated by an Eug supplementation. Eug’s antioxidant, antiapoptotic, and anti-inflammatory capabilities were the key in modulating AgNPs nephrotoxicity. Full article
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