Search Results (1,211)

Environmental pesticide exposure has been linked to adverse health effects, and residential proximity to agricultural land is commonly used as a proxy for exposure; however, the contribution of non-agricultural biomes remains insufficiently explored. This study examined whether the proximity and area of different biomes are associated with the detection of selected pesticides in human urine in Latvia. Urine samples were collected from 202 participants (101 adults and 101 children) within the Human Biomonitoring for Europe (HBM4EU) study during the winter and summer seasons of 2020. A suspect screening approach using liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) was applied and 23 pesticides were detected (8 insecticides, 12 fungicides, 2 herbicides and triclosan, an antimicrobial ingredient used in cleaning agents). Geospatial data were analysed in Quantum Geographic Information System (QGIS) to derive biome proximity and area within a 1000 m residential buffer; associations were assessed using generalized linear mixed-effects models. Agricultural land was present within 1000 m of 93.1% of residences, yet neither its distance nor area was consistently associated with pesticide detection. Boscalid was detected in 18.4% of samples and was positively associated with wetland area across seasons (p < 0.001), while fludioxonil (14.7%) showed weak and heterogeneous spatial associations and pirimiphos-methyl (10.2%) showed no significant patterns. Overall, pesticide exposure was substance-specific and influenced by landscape characteristics beyond agricultural proximity, highlighting the need to integrate non-agricultural biomes into human biomonitoring in low-intensity pesticide-use settings. Full article

Foundries represent complex exposure scenarios where metals, particulate matter, and combustion by-products coexist, posing potential cumulative biological effects. Urinary metabolic profiles from 64 foundry workers and 78 residents living in surrounding areas were investigated using multivariate statistical modeling. Differences in urinary metabolite patterns were observed between the two groups, including lower levels of several amino acids (e.g., valine, alanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan) and tricarboxylic acid intermediates (e.g., citrate and succinate), together with higher levels of selected branched-chain amino acid catabolites (e.g., 3-hydroxyisobutyrate and erythro-2,3-dihydroxybutyrate) in workers. Variations in gut microbiota-related metabolites, such as phenylacetylglycine and p-cresol sulphate, were also detected. Based on these metabolic patterns, potential molecular mechanisms related to energy metabolism, oxidative stress and host–microbiome interaction are discussed as interpretative hypotheses. The comparison between workers and residents was interpreted, taking into account differences in demographic and lifestyle characteristics between groups. Overall, the results indicate that occupational exposure in foundries is associated with measurable differences in urinary metabolic profiles, demonstrating that the applied NMR-based metabolomic strategy is capable of capturing early biological effects and supporting its potential as a non-invasive and holistic biomonitoring tool for evaluating the health impact of complex occupational exposures. Full article

The Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC requires the assessment of the ecological quality in all surface waters using biological indices, yet the effective application of these indices often demands extensive and long-term monitoring data. Oxidative stress biomarkers offer a promising complementary approach, as they can detect early biochemical responses of organisms to environmental degradation. In this study, we evaluated the suitability of two oxidative stress biomarkers—malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and DNA damage—in the gonads of a freshwater fish species, the Prussian carp Carassius gibelio (Bloch, 1782) as indicators of ecological condition in lakes of differing environmental quality. Fish were sampled from four lakes (Doirani, Vegoritida, Volvi, Petron; Northern Greece) representing a gradient of physicochemical and ecological quality. Both MDA concentrations and DNA damage showed significant (p < 0.05) differences among lakes. However, only DNA damage in the gonads was significantly (p < 0.05) associated with lake ecological quality as determined by the Greek Lake Fish Index (GLFI), with higher biomarker responses observed in lakes of poorer status. These findings demonstrate that oxidative stress biomarkers in C. gibelio reflect variations in lake ecological quality and may serve as sensitive, early-warning tools for biomonitoring and pollution assessment in freshwater ecosystems. Full article

Freshwater ecosystems are increasingly threatened by pollution, hydromorphological alteration, invasive species, and loss of ecological connectivity, complicating the monitoring and conservation of native fish communities. Environmental DNA (eDNA) has emerged as a sensitive, non-invasive, and cost-effective tool for detecting species, including rare or low-abundance taxa, overcoming several limitations of traditional methods. However, its rapid expansion has generated methodological dispersion and heterogeneity in protocols. This systematic review and bibliometric analysis synthesize 131 articles published between 2020 and 2025 on the use of eDNA in freshwater fish conservation. Due to the strong methodological heterogeneity among studies, the evidence was synthesized through a structured qualitative approach under PRISMA standards. Results show rapid growth in scientific output since 2023. eDNA has proven highly effective in identifying key ecological patterns such as migration and spawning, detecting critical habitats, and supporting temporal and spatial assessments. It has also facilitated early detection of invasive species including Oreochromis niloticus, Oncorhynchus gorbuscha, and Chitala ornata, and improved monitoring of threatened native species, reinforcing conservation decision-making. Despite advances, challenges persist, including variability in eDNA persistence and transport, gaps in genetic reference databases, and a lack of methodological standardization. Future perspectives include detecting parasites, advancing trophic analyses, and integrating eDNA with ecological modeling and remote sensing. Full article

Cancer cases have been estimated that will increase in the next years with consequent increase of antineoplastic (AD) drug treatments and workers handling these hazardous chemicals. We aimed to evaluate genotoxic/oxidative effects of AD exposure by fpg-comet assay on a large size sample of workers (214 exposed and 164 controls) involved in preparation; administration, including Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) and pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC); and disposal. With the final aim to identify suitable early biomarkers of genotoxic effect useful to health surveillance, we correlated fpg-comet assay (blood) and Buccal Micronucleus Cytome (BMCyt) assay data. Fpg-comet parameters resulted higher in the exposed group vs. controls, demonstrating direct and oxidative DNA damage in workers handling ADs. Fpg-comet direct DNA damage and genotoxic parameters of BMCyt assay demonstrated a weak statistically significant correlation. This cross-sectional study is one of the few available evaluating both direct and oxidative DNA damage due to ADs on a large sample size of workers and correlating fpg-comet and BMCyt assay results. It highlights the need to evaluate genotoxic effects by both the biomarkers and furnishes a contribution to their validation. Moreover, we demonstrate for the first time oxidative DNA damage on workers performing HIPEC and PIPAC administration. Full article

Over the last 15 years, mixture risk assessment for food xenobiotics has evolved from conceptual discussions and simple screening tools, such as the Hazard Index (HI), towards operational, component-based and probabilistic frameworks embedded in major food-safety institutions. This review synthesizes methodological and regulatory advances in cumulative risk assessment for dietary “cocktails” of pesticides, contaminants and other xenobiotics, with a specific focus on food-relevant exposure scenarios. At the toxicological level, the field is now anchored in concentration/dose addition as the default model for similarly acting chemicals, supported by extensive experimental evidence that most environmental mixtures behave approximately dose-additively at low effect levels. Building on this paradigm, a portfolio of quantitative metrics has been developed to operationalize component-based mixture assessment: HI as a conservative screening anchor; Relative Potency Factors (RPF) and Toxic Equivalents (TEQ) to express doses within cumulative assessment groups; the Maximum Cumulative Ratio (MCR) to diagnose whether risk is dominated by one or several components; and the combined Margin of Exposure (MOET) as a point-of-departure-based integrator that avoids compounding uncertainty factors. Regulatory frameworks developed by EFSA, the U.S. EPA and FAO/WHO converge on tiered assessment schemes, biologically informed grouping of chemicals and dose addition as the default model for similarly acting substances, while differing in scope, data infrastructure and legal embedding. Implementation in food safety critically depends on robust exposure data streams. Total Diet Studies provide population-level, “as eaten” exposure estimates through harmonized food-list construction, home-style preparation and composite sampling, and are increasingly combined with conventional monitoring. In parallel, human biomonitoring quantifies internal exposure to diet-related xenobiotics such as PFAS, phthalates, bisphenols and mycotoxins, embedding mixture assessment within a dietary-exposome perspective. Across these developments, structured uncertainty analysis and decision-oriented communication have become indispensable. By integrating advances in toxicology, exposure science and regulatory practice, this review outlines a coherent, tiered and uncertainty-aware framework for assessing real-world dietary mixtures of xenobiotics, and identifies priorities for future work, including mechanistically and data-driven grouping strategies, expanded use of physiologically based pharmacokinetic modelling and refined mixture-sensitive indicators to support public-health decision-making. Full article

The buccal micronucleus cytome assay (BMCyt) is a validated, non-invasive biomonitoring method used to detect early genotoxic and cytotoxic changes linked to environmental and occupational exposures. Healthcare workers, especially nurses and dentists, are routinely exposed to genotoxic agents such as anesthetic gases, cytotoxic drugs, ionizing radiation, and heavy metals. This study compared seven cytological biomarkers in exfoliated buccal cells from female nurses, dentists, and teachers to assess multivariate cytogenetic differences and potential occupational influences. Samples were collected from 32 nurses, 41 dentists, and 47 teachers, and 3000 cells per participant were evaluated for micronuclei (MN) and six additional nuclear abnormalities. Group differences were examined using MANOVA and permutation MANOVA, followed by pairwise tests, and visualized with Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Significant multivariate differences were found between nurses and both dentists and teachers (p = 0.003), supported by permutation tests, while dentists and teachers did not differ. PCA explained 56% of the variance and showed apparent clustering of nurses. Chromatin condensation and MN were the main contributors to group separation. Nurses had significantly higher MN (p ≤ 0.001) and karyorrhexis (p ≤ 0.0004) than dentist and teachers. Overall, nurses showed a distinct cytogenetic profile consistent with greater genotoxic susceptibility. Full article

In this study, for the first time urinary NMR-based metabolomics was applied to investigate the physiological alterations associated with occupational exposure in ceramic manufacturing workers. Multivariate analysis revealed a distinctive metabolic signature with exposure, characterized by a depletion of both aliphatic and aromatic amino acids and a concomitant accumulation of branched-chain amino acid catabolites. Alterations in tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediates, including citrate and succinate, suggest an involvement of mitochondrial energy metabolism, reflecting adaptive responses to oxidative stress and increased protein turnover. Notably, glycine levels were found increased, consistent with its central role in antioxidant defense and xenobiotic detoxification. Furthermore, changes in urinary host–microbiome co-metabolites, such as 4-hydroxyphenylacetate and phenylacetylglycine, indicate the potential modulation of gut microbial activity in response to occupational exposure. While limited by the small cohort, this study demonstrates the feasibility of NMR-based urinary metabolomics for the non-invasive biomonitoring of workers and suggests its potential as a useful tool for detecting subtle metabolic perturbations associated with complex occupational exposures. Full article

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a frequent pregnancy pathology with poor maternal and fetal outcomes and risk of type 2 diabetes in later life. Despite known risk factors, such as obesity, age, and familial history, new data suggest that environmental exposure to agents, such as pesticides, can play a role in the etiogenesis of GDM. Objective: The epidemiologic, experimental, and mechanistic evidence between pesticide exposure and GDM risk is summarized here, and we concentrate on recent research (2000–2025). Methods: We conducted a literature search in PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for studies published from January 2000 to December 2025 using combinations of the terms “fertilizers”, “herbicides”, and “pesticides” with “diabetes mellitus” and “gestational diabetes”. After deduplication, 12 unique studies met inclusion criteria for qualitative synthesis (GDM endpoint or pregnancy glycemia with pesticide exposure). Results: Occupational and agricultural exposure to pesticides during first pregnancy was determined to be associated with a significantly increased risk of GDM through various epidemiologic studies. New studies have implicated new classes of pesticides, including pyrethroids and neonicotinoids, with higher GDM risk with first-trimester exposure. Experimental studies suggest that pesticides provide potential endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can induce insulin resistance through disruption of hormonal signaling, oxidative stress, inflammation, β-cell toxicity, and epigenetic modifications. However, significant limitations exist. Most of the evidence is observational, measurement of exposure is often indirect, and confounding factors are difficult to exclude. Notably, low dietary and residential exposure is not well studied, and dose–response relationships are undefined. Conclusions: New data indicate that pesticide exposure during early pregnancy and occupational exposure may increase the risk of GDM. Prospective cohort studies using biomonitoring, chemical mixture exposure, and geographic variation in pesticide exposure should be the focus of future research. Due to potential public health implications, preventive strategies to ensure the quality of nutrition and to reduce maternal exposure to pesticides during pregnancy are rational. Full article

Understanding the behavioral strategies that allow freshwater mussels to persist under environmental stress is essential for their conservation, yet burrowing behavior remains poorly quantified. We tested whether valve movement data could be used to detect and characterize burrowing in the endangered Westralunio carteri; a species endemic to a region undergoing severe climatic drying. Mussels from multiple populations were monitored individually under laboratory conditions using Hall effect sensors, and valve movement patterns were analyzed to distinguish between burrowing and non-burrowing behaviors. Burrowing was associated with rapid, high-amplitude valve movements that lengthened as burial progressed, while non-burrowing behaviors showed distinct, slower patterns. These differences indicate that valvometry can reliably identify burrowing behavior, providing a non-invasive method for monitoring mussel activity. This approach has broad applications for ecological research, conservation assessment, and early-warning biomonitoring of imperiled freshwater mussel populations. Full article

Monitoring trace metals in commercially important fish species provides an early warning of anthropogenic contamination and potential risk to consumers. This study semi-quantified and quantified essential, non-essential, and toxic elements in the muscle of wild meagre (Argyrosomus regius) captured in the Tagus estuary (Portugal), which is used as a nursery and spawning aggregation area. Dry muscle was microwave-digested and analyzed using inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy. Semi-quantified screening detected Al, B, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Na, P, S, Si, Sr, and Ti, and eight elements were determined using multielement calibration (As, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Se, and Zn); Cd, Pb (toxic elements), Co, and Mo were not detected in this study. Arsenic was detected in all individuals, with a minimum value of 0.348 mg/kg wet weight. A mercury level above the European Commission regulatory limit (0.5 mg/kg wet weight) was only detected in one individual, corresponding to 2% of the samples. Although other metals remain well below regulatory limits, continued biomonitoring is recommended to track temporal trends and safeguard seafood safety in transitional coastal systems, which is important for commercially relevant fish species. Full article

This study assessed the spatial distribution and composition of airborne particulate matter within a 10 km long urban green corridor in Zacatecas, Mexico, using magnetic biomonitoring with Tillandsia recurvata and SEM-EDS particle characterization. A total of 44 samples were collected from distinct urban park contexts (e.g., commercial zones, malls, bus stops), revealing mass-specific magnetic susceptibility χ values ranging from −6.71 to 61.1 × 10⁻⁸ m³ kg⁻¹. Three compositional groups were identified based on a PCA performed using elemental concentrations from SEM-EDS and magnetic data, which are associated with traffic emissions and industrial inputs. SEM-EDS images confirmed abundant magnetite-like particles (1–8 μm) with hazardous metals including Pb (up to 5.6 wt.%), Ba (up to 67.6 wt.%), and Cr (up to 31.5 wt.%). Wind direction data indicated predominant SSW–NNE transport, correlating with hotspots in central and northeastern park areas. Overall, vegetated zones exhibited markedly lower magnetic loads (mean χ = 8.84 × 10⁻⁸ m³ kg⁻¹) than traffic-exposed sites (mean χ = 17.27 × 10⁻⁸ m³ kg⁻¹), representing an approximate 50% reduction in magnetic particle accumulation, which highlights the effective role of continuous vegetation cover as a functional green barrier that attenuates the lateral transport and deposition of airborne particulate matter within the park. This research highlights the applicability of combined magnetic and microscopic techniques for evaluating the dynamics of airborne pollution in urban parks and supports their use for identifying both pollution hotspots and mitigation zones, reinforcing the role of urban green spaces as biofunctional filters in cities facing vehicular air pollution. Full article

Contemporary knee prostheses rely predominantly on a metal–polyethylene bearing couple, which—despite substantial advances in material engineering—continues to generate polymeric wear particles over time. While the local biological effects of polyethylene debris, such as inflammation and osteolysis, are well-characterised, their potential systemic implications remain insufficiently explored. In this review, we synthesise multidisciplinary evidence to evaluate the generation, biological behaviour, and systemic dissemination of polyethylene-derived nano- and microplastics (NMPs) released from knee prostheses. We also contextualise prosthetic wear within the broader toxicological framework of NMP exposure, highlighting translocation pathways, interactions with immune and metabolic systems, and potential multi-organ effects reported in recent experimental and clinical studies. Current findings suggest that prosthetic wear may represent an under-recognised internal source of NMP exposure, with possible implications for long-term patient health. A clearer understanding of the systemic behaviour of prosthetic-derived NMPs is essential to guide future biomonitoring studies, improve prosthetic materials, and support the development of safer, more biocompatible implant designs. Full article

Artificial freshwater bodies receive elemental inputs and face environmental stressors, posing a risk of wetland pollution that could threaten ecological health. In such an inland backwater, its microbial diversity and functional potentials remain uncharacterized. Here, shotgun metagenomic sequencing was performed on environmental DNA samples collected from the Atoud Dam reservoir in southwestern Saudi Arabia. The taxonomic assignments of the sequencing reads identified Pseudomonadota and Actinomycetota as the dominant phyla, while the most prevalent species was Microcystis aeruginosa. Binning assembled contigs recovered 30 metagenome-assembled genomes representing 11 phyla, suggesting potentially novel bacterial taxa and metabolic functions. Functional analysis of gene-coding sequences identified genes associated with mobile genetic elements and xenobiotic biodegradation pathways as the main factors driving the spread of antibiotic resistance genes. Additionally, a community-wide analysis of enzyme-encoding genes involved in regulating the carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycles revealed significant annotation of denitrification and thiosulfate oxidation pathways under anoxic conditions, suggesting early signs of eutrophication and a potential risk of algal blooms. Overall, our study provides detailed insights into the genomic capabilities of the microbial community in this previously understudied ecosystem and establishes baseline data for future assessments of microbial biodiversity in other, less-explored ecosystems, thereby facilitating more effective biomonitoring and discovery. Full article

Background: Viticulture in Southern Brazil heavily relies on fungicides, such as Mancozeb, to manage fungal diseases. Increasing concern has emerged regarding the chronic health effects of Mancozeb exposure among vineyard workers, particularly its potential to induce oxidative stress and genotoxicity. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between July and November 2023 involving 94 participants: 50 vineyard workers occupationally exposed to Mancozeb and 44 organic farmers with no history of pesticide exposure, who served as the control group. Eligible participants were aged 18 years or older, and exposed individuals had at least 5 years of documented Mancozeb use. Data on demographics, health status, occupational history, and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) were collected through structured interviews. Blood and urine samples were analyzed to determine hematological and biochemical parameters, oxidative stress biomarkers, genotoxicity (via comet assay and micronucleus test), and urinary ethylene thiourea (ETU), the primary metabolite of Mancozeb. Results: Workers exposed to Mancozeb exhibited significantly elevated levels of oxidative stress markers (p < 0.001) and DNA damage in both genotoxicity assays (p < 0.001). Urinary ETU concentrations were also markedly elevated, and a threshold of 69.3 ng/mL was identified as a discriminative marker of exposure. Conclusions: This study offers a novel contribution by proposing a specific biological exposure limit for ETU concentrations, derived from ROC curve analysis, representing a significant advancement in occupational health. The findings underscore the urgent need for regulatory biological exposure limits and the implementation of effective preventive strategies. Full article