Search Results (1,530)

The green synthesis of nanoparticles offers a solution to control pesticide-resistant pests while minimizing environmental and health risks. Thrips tabaci is an injurious pest that attacks garlic crops and spreads the Iris yellow spot virus. The present research was performed to evaluate the synergistic effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized by Teucrium polium with Spinosad against T. tabaci and assess their impact on garlic photosynthetic pigments. The characterization of the prepared nanoparticles was carried out by SEM, XRD, and Malvern zeta sizer. Antimicrobial activity was assessed using microdilution. Photosynthetic pigments were measured with a spectrophotometer after treating garlic cloves with four different concentrations of AgNPs and Spinosad mixture along with positive control (Spinosad) and negative control (tap water). Toxic bioassays were conducted under laboratory, greenhouse, and open field conditions. The results indicate all treatments, except for the 100% AgNPs, resulted in 100% second instar larvae and adult mortality after 72 h in the laboratory. In greenhouse conditions, the 50% Spinosad–50% AgNPs achieved 93.85% larvae mortality, and the 75% Spinosad–25% AgNPs achieved 100% adult mortality after a week. In open field conditions, the combination 50% Spinosad–50% AgNPs showed high efficacy, resulting in 65.97% mortality of larvae and 73.06% mortality of adults after 72 h. This study reveals that AgNPs have active pesticide properties against T. tabaci with minimal environmental and health risks. Full article

The avocado oil industry discards residues from the peeling and destoning steps primarily as mixtures with high biofunctional potential. Extracts from a residual avocado oil industry (RAOI) mixture were evaluated for the effects of green technologies Naviglio^® (rapid solid–liquid dynamic extraction), ultrasound, and maceration on their functional compounds and biological activity. The Naviglio^® extract excelled for total flavonoid content (7.29 ± 1.09 mg QE/g), minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against Escherichia coli (25 mg/mL) and Staphylococcus aureus (25 mg/mL), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against Staphylococcus aureus (50 mg/mL), with similar anti-inflammatory activity and total phenolic content (17.32 ± 0.59 mg GAE/g) than the maceration extract. Maceration was superior in seven polyphenol contents, β-sitosterol (9135.87 ± 468.83 mg/kg), and antioxidant activities (116.71 ± 16.09, 63.85 ± 3.97 and 49.63 ± 1.83 µmol TE/g for ABTS, FRAP and DPPH, respectively). At the evaluated MIC and MBC, the Naviglio^® extract was non-toxic, while maceration and ultrasound extracts were moderately toxic; at the anti-inflammatory concentrations tested, the Naviglio^® and ultrasound extracts were non-toxic. Naviglio^® and ultrasound extracts have pharmaceutical potential as antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents, while the macerated extract is a potential source of β-sitosterol. For the first time, Naviglio^® technology was applied to RAOI mixtures, and the biological properties of the extracts were evaluated. Full article

Advanced oxidation processes based on photo-Fenton chemistry have gained increasing attention as effective treatment alternatives for the removal of pharmaceutical contaminants from water and wastewater systems. However, large-scale implementation remains constrained by operational requirements, limited mineralization efficiency, and challenges associated with process stability and selectivity. This review provides a critical assessment of recent advances (2022–2025) in conventional photo-Fenton and hybrid systems, including photocatalysis/photo-Fenton and sono-photo-Fenton processes, with emphasis on their performance in water and wastewater treatment applications. The removal of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, pharmaceutical mixtures, and real wastewater matrices is analyzed considering catalyst configuration, irradiation sources, oxidant utilization, and operating conditions relevant to practical treatment scenarios. Conventional homogeneous Fe²⁺/H₂O₂ systems enable rapid contaminant degradation but typically require acidic conditions and show limited mineralization efficiency. In contrast, iron-complexed and heterogeneous catalysts allow operation under near-neutral pH and visible-light irradiation, improving applicability in realistic water treatment systems. Hybrid photocatalysis/photo-Fenton processes enhance treatment efficiency through synergistic generation of reactive oxygen species, while ultrasound-assisted systems further intensify oxidation rates and contaminant removal. Special attention is given to oxidation mechanisms, catalyst stability, transformation products, and toxicity evolution to identify the key factors controlling treatment performance. Finally, current technological limitations, operational challenges, and design considerations for process integration, scale-up, and sustainable implementation in water and wastewater treatment are discussed. Full article

Botanical insecticides containing a mixture of plant essential oils (EOs) are considered suitable for the management of houseflies (M. domestica). The adulticidal efficacies of single EOs and mixtures of EOs, including lemongrass (C. citratus), star anise (I. verum), nutmeg (M. fragrans), and their components (geranial, trans-anethole, and α-pinene), against houseflies were determined in comparison to 2% (w/v) α-cypermethrin as the positive control and distilled water as the negative control. The mixture of star anise EO (1%) + geranial (1%) was the most effective adulticide, superseding single EOs, other combinations of EOs, and its active component, α-cypermethrin, and distilled water. This mixture was highly synergistic and was found to be over 74% more toxic than all single EOs and almost 2.6 times more toxic than α-cypermethrin. Furthermore, the tested EOs did not cause mortality in guppies (P. reticulata) or earthworms (E. fetida), and caused a maximum of 48% mortality in honeybees (A. mellifera) at 24 h; by contrast, α-cypermethrin led to 100% mortality in honeybees within 0.5 h and in guppies and earthworms within 24 h, although it had low toxicity toward houseflies. Thus, a mixture of star anise EO + geranial is a promising source of EO-derived insecticides for housefly control that is also safe for important non-target species. Full article

This is the first systematic review evaluating Black Sea plankton as biosensor organisms for Biological Early Warning Systems (BEWS)—real-time monitoring approaches that detect sublethal behavioral or physiological responses to pollutants before irreversible ecosystem damage occurs. The systematic literature review was guided by the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) approach, ensuring methodological transparency and applicability. A total of 140 publications from databases (Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases) were included in the final analysis. We assess nine native planktonic taxa as candidates for automated video-based water quality monitoring, using a multi-criteria framework encompassing biological sensitivity, technical detectability, and practical feasibility. Three species emerge as the most suitable candidates: Aurelia aurita as a universal indicator (sensitive to copper, surfactants, petroleum, and microplastics; its large size enables standard video detection); Acartia tonsa for trace contamination (reproductive toxicity at metal concentrations 4–33× below regulatory standards); and Mnemiopsis leidyi for metal-specific discrimination (bioluminescent responses: 650% Zn, 430% Cu, and 350% Hg at 0.001 mg/L). Analysis of 140 publications reveals critical gaps: 33% of species lack toxicological data, 95% of studies test single toxicants despite natural mixture exposure, and microplastic methodology varies 1000-fold in particle size. Threshold analysis suggests planktonic sublethal stress at “safe” concentrations under current standards, suggesting inadequate protection of marine food webs. A complementary monitoring approach integrating these species with computer vision algorithms offers autonomous early-warning capability for Black Sea environmental management. Full article

Despite the undisputable ecosystem importance of honeybees, human activities have a substantial impact on their health. Since foraging is directly linked to a wide range of crops and bee-attracting flowers, plant protection products are at the forefront of chemical scrutiny, along with contamination of pollen, nectar, beehive components and water by other xenobiotics. In this study, a non-targeted Liquid Chromatography-High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (LC-HRMS) screening was applied to 25 honeybee samples collected after reported death incidents in Greece. This approach led to the tentative annotation of over 50 compounds across various chemical classes, including pesticides, PFAS candidates not included in the EFSA “PFAS-4”, pharmaceuticals, antibiotics, industrial chemicals, and natural product constituents. In parallel, targeted pesticide residue analysis using liquid and gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS) was performed, covering more than 250 active substances and providing direct quantitative results, revealing 11 active substances in concentrations ranging from <limit of quantification (LOQ) to 0.95 mg/kg, overlapping substantially with the HRMS detection. Overall, this study does not allow concrete causal attribution of mortality to specific chemicals; however, it documents complex co-occurrence patterns (pesticides together with other xenobiotics and plant bioactives), not excluding sublethal and mixture-toxicity effects. Quantified pesticide concentrations were below acute LD50-based thresholds, yet selected samples combined neonicotinoid/pyrethroid/fungicide signatures and other contaminants, supporting the need for mixture-toxicity frameworks and effect-based follow-ups. Full article

Water scarcity compels wastewater reuse, but lax discharge standards generate a regulatory mirage, misleading the public about safety. Here, “regulatory mirage” refers to situations where formal compliance with discharge standards creates a false perception of safety while ecological risks and degradation persist. Despite formal compliance, treated effluent severely harms Iran’s effluent-dependent Kashaf River, driving eutrophication, salinization, and the downstream transport of unregulated contaminants of emerging concern, including fluorinated substances (PFAS) and pharmaceuticals. These pressures extend beyond the river channel to adjacent natural wetlands, which act as de facto nature-based treatment systems yet are progressively transformed into sacrificial sinks for excess nutrients, salts, heavy metals, and micropollutants. By benchmarking the Iranian Wastewater Discharge Standards (IWDS) against international guidelines (WHO, EU, FAO), this study quantifies a “Permissibility Gap” frequently greater than 10 for key parameters such as BOD₅, nutrients, and trace metals, revealing how concentration-based limits ignore cumulative mass load and mixture toxicity at the basin scale. The Kashaf River case demonstrates that current end-of-pipe regulation undermines both natural wetlands and planned nature-based solutions, including constructed wetlands, in arid regions where effluent reuse is unavoidable. The study argues that aligning discharge standards with global benchmarks, adopting mass-based permits, and explicitly regulating contaminants of emerging concern are prerequisites for truly safe wastewater reuse and for protecting wetland ecosystems in effluent-dependent basins. This study shows that permissive, concentration-based discharge standards in effluent-dependent basins create a regulatory mirage that accelerates river and wetland degradation, and that stricter, mass-based limits are essential for safe wastewater reuse. Full article

Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) are widely used, structurally complex mixtures of chlorinated alkanes whose ecological risks in aquatic ecosystems have raised increasing concern. However, the toxic effects and molecular mechanisms of CPs on primary aquatic producers remain poorly understood. In this study, we used the eukaryotic green algae Chlorella sp. and the prokaryotic cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa (M. aeruginosa) as test organisms to systematically investigate the effects of CPs with different carbon chain lengths, namely short-chain CPs (SCCPs), medium-chain CPs (MCCPs), and long-chain CPs (LCCPs), on algal growth, photosynthetic pigment content, antioxidant systems, cellular ultrastructure, and the underlying molecular responses. Our results showed that CPs toxicity to algae is significantly dependent on both CPs carbon-chain length and algal species. Exposure to 1.0 mg/L SCCPs for 96 h produced a growth inhibition of Chlorella sp. of 14.45%. CPs’ exposure significantly altered algal Chl-a content and elicited antioxidant defense responses, and affected the synthesis and extracellular release of MC-RR and MC-LR in M. aeruginosa. Ultrastructural observations revealed cell surface wrinkling and deformation in both Chlorella sp. and M. aeruginosa. Chlorella sp. additionally exhibited thylakoid disintegration and plasmolysis. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that CPs with different chain lengths significantly downregulated genes in Chlorella sp. associated with DNA replication and mismatch repair, suggesting impairment of replication initiation and elongation and compromised genome stability. Concurrently, genes encoding photosynthetic antenna proteins and carbon fixation were upregulated. In M. aeruginosa, CPs exposure markedly disturbed energy metabolism pathways, including glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and oxidative phosphorylation, which were generally downregulated. This study provides a comparative assessment of CPs’ toxicity between the eukaryotic algae Chlorella sp. and the prokaryotic algae M. aeruginosa, revealing that toxicity is co-determined by carbon chain length and algal species. Additionally, it provides critical toxicological data and establishes a theoretical foundation for the scientific assessment of the aquatic ecological risks posed by CPs with different carbon chain lengths. Full article

Quinolone antibiotic (QA) residues in various natural environments have recently received massive scientific attention. Nevertheless, there is limited information on the distribution characteristics and potential hazards of antibiotics in coastal wetlands. Here, the occurrence, spatial and seasonal distribution, and ecological risk assessment of eight QAs including pipemidic acid (PPA), ofloxacin (OFL), enrofloxacin (ENR), ciprofloxacin (CIP), sarafloxacin (SAL), lomefloxacin (LOM), flumequine (FLU), and oxolinic acid (OA) in coastal wetland were investigated through collected water, sediment, benthos, and plant samples along the Jiangsu coastline in four seasons. The results demonstrated that all selected QAs were detected with varying frequencies and degrees, and their mean concentrations in water, sediment, plants, and benthos ranged from n.d. to 6.11 ng L⁻¹, 3.10 μg kg⁻¹, 6.14 μg kg⁻¹, and 17.13 μg kg⁻¹, respectively. The seasonal differences in antibiotic concentration indicated higher values in winter and significantly lower values in summer, while no significant variations were observed between spring and autumn. Based on the risk quotient (RQ) method, the ecological risk assessment revealed medium risks for OFL, ENR, CIP, and LOM, and low or no risks of other QAs. It is suggested that the differences in PNEC values between seasons and toxicity of antibiotic mixtures should be considered in future studies for better illustration of actual risk levels. This research provides fundamental data and an assessment pattern that governments and other scientific groups all over the world could use as reference to evaluate QA residues in coastal wetlands. Full article

Background: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is central to synaptic plasticity and neurodevelopment. Toxic metal exposure is linked to oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, yet its effects on BDNF signaling remain unclear. Objectives: To systematically synthesize evidence from human and experimental studies on the association between environmental or occupational metal exposure and BDNF alterations, and to highlight research gaps with an emphasis on hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)). Methods: PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect were searched following PRISMA guidelines. Eligible studies included human observational research and animal models reporting quantitative associations between metal exposure (biomarkers/environmental measures) and BDNF outcomes (protein or gene expression). Data were extracted on exposure assessment, BDNF measurement, and neurobehavioral outcomes. Study quality was assessed using NOS (human studies) and SciRAP (experimental studies). Results: Nineteen studies were included. Across metals such as Pb, Hg, Cd, As, Mn, and mixtures, exposure was associated with altered BDNF levels in blood or brain tissue, often alongside oxidative stress markers, inflammatory changes, and cognitive or behavioral impairment in animal models. Most human studies reported decreased circulating BDNF with higher exposure, while experimental evidence suggested context-dependent regulation across exposure windows and brain regions. Conclusions: The available evidence supports a biologically plausible link between metal exposure and BDNF dysregulation. No eligible studies evaluated BDNF in relation to Cr(VI), indicating a major research gap. Future studies should integrate neurotrophic biomarkers with exposome-oriented designs to clarify chromium-related neurotoxicity and support Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP)-informed frameworks. Full article

Heavy metal contamination associated with mining activities is a major source of abiotic stress for plants, strongly affecting plant physiology, growth and survival in contaminated environments. Due to their non-biodegradable nature and long-term bioavailability, heavy metals persist in soils affected by mining activities, exposing plants to chronic stress conditions that require the activation of coordinated cellular and molecular response mechanisms to limit toxicity and maintain internal homeostasis. This review synthesises and critically analyses current knowledge on the molecular and cellular mechanisms governing plant responses to heavy metal stress in mining-affected environments. Key processes involved in metal uptake and transport, redox imbalance and oxidative stress generation, antioxidant defence systems, and molecular detoxification mechanisms, including metal chelation, subcellular compartmentalisation, and gene expression regulation, are discussed. Particular attention is paid to cellular signalling pathways that mediate plant adaptation to prolonged exposure to complex metal mixtures. Emphasis is placed on integrating molecular-level knowledge with the specific context of mining sites, highlighting the limitations of extrapolating results obtained under controlled experimental conditions to naturally contaminated environments. This perspective integrates molecular mechanisms with the geochemical realities of mining sites, providing a solid basis for the development of effective phytoremediation strategies and the optimisation of plant species selection. Full article

Dopaminergic neurodegeneration is a hallmark of Parkinson’s disease (PD), and environmental contaminants have been implicated in disrupting dopaminergic pathways. However, practical in vivo workflows for rapid, standardized, and accessible assessment of dopaminergic neurotoxicity remain limited. In this study, we built on our laboratory’s established high-throughput framework and implemented a high-content imaging workflow to quantify DA neurodegeneration in Caenorhabditis elegans following exposure to representative per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). We evaluated the neurotoxic effects of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), and three PFAS mixtures with environmentally relevant component ratios. Functional relevance was assessed using dopamine-dependent behavioral endpoints, including basal slowing response (BSR) and area-restricted search (ARS). PFOS exhibited the greatest potency, followed by PFHxS, PFHxA, and PFOA, based on morphological degeneration and benchmark concentration modeling. Structural neuronal damage was significantly associated with behavioral impairment. Under mixture conditions, neurotoxicity was more strongly associated with PFOS molar fraction than with total PFAS concentration (ΣPFAS), suggesting a composition-dependent toxicity profile. Collectively, these findings establish a scalable in vivo framework for assessing PFAS-induced dopaminergic neurotoxicity and support the potential use of this platform for screening environmental pollutants with dopaminergic neurotoxic potential. Full article

This study evaluated the efficiency and ecotoxicological impact of the Fenton oxidation process with different metal-based catalysts (FeSO₄, CuSO₄, MnSO₄) in removing pharmaceuticals and organic contaminants from real hospital wastewater. All catalytic systems achieved high oxidation, with COD reduction reaching 81–89% after 4 h. Two complementary approaches were applied: targeted LC-MS/MS quantification of a model mixture of antibiotics and pharmaceuticals, and untargeted GC-MS/MS screening method for assessing the overall organic contaminant profile. Toxicity was assessed using Microtox^®. Targeted analysis showed complete or near-complete degradation of β-lactams, tetracyclines and most sulfonamides, with slightly lower removal for sulfamethoxazole in FeSO₄ system (96%). Fluoroquinolones and selected pharmaceuticals, such as caffeine and propranolol were more resistant, particularly with CuSO₄ and MnSO₄ catalysts. The untargeted GC-MS/MS screening revealed the highest overall reduction in chromatographic peak areas for FeSO₄ (70%), followed by MnSO₄ (39%) and CuSO₄ (36%). GC-MS/MS profiling confirmed that the Fe-catalyzed process was the most effective in reducing the total chromatographic peak area (70%). However, ecotoxicological assays revealed a significant increase in toxicity post-treatment, with growth inhibition of Allivibrio fischeri reaching 98%. This suggests that high oxidation does not directly correlate with biological safety, likely due to the presence of unconsumed reagents or the formation of transformation products with higher acute toxicity. These findings emphasize the necessity of integrating bioassays into treatment evaluation protocols to assess the true environmental risk of treated effluents. Full article

The widespread presence of microplastics (MPs), heavy metals, and herbicide residues in agricultural soil raises concerns about their combined effects on soil microorganisms. This study examined the combined impact of Zn(II)/Cu(II), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and metolachlor (MET) on Trichoderma harzianum IM 7002, a strain isolated from heavily polluted soil in central Poland. Exposure to LDPE and MET alone reduced fungal growth and induced oxidative stress, whereas Zn(II) at a concentration of 5 mM and Cu(II) at a concentration of 2.5 mM stimulated growth and enhanced MET degradation. HPLC MS/MS analysis identified transformation products, confirming active degradation even under co-exposure to LDPE and metals. Notably, simultaneous exposure to MET, LDPE, and Cu(II) (5 mM) increased antioxidant enzyme activity and decreased lipid peroxidation, suggesting a strengthened antioxidant defense and/or partial utilization of reactive oxygen species during MET biotransformation. Pollutant mixtures also caused quantitative shifts in membrane phospholipid composition and a slight increase in membrane permeability, indicating both toxic effects and adaptive membrane remodeling in response to chemical stress. Overall, T. harzianum IM 7002 exhibited high tolerance to complex pollutant mixtures while maintaining herbicide-degradation capacity, highlighting its potential for remediation of contaminated agricultural soils. Full article

Tungsten is an extremely durable metal with a wide range of industrial applications and its toxicity is relatively low, although chronic exposure to its compounds can lead to adverse health effects. This paper proposes a method for the determination of trace amounts of tungsten using cathodic stripping voltammetry (CSV). A hybrid structure based on a mixture of multi-walled carbon nanotubes and spherical glassy carbon was used as the working electrode, on the surface of which a film of lead was formed during the measurement to increase the efficiency of the determination. A comprehensive optimization of the analytical parameters, including accumulation potential and time, signal recording conditions and electrolyte solution composition, was carried out to maximize sensitivity and improve the signal-to-noise ratio. The method developed achieved a detection limit for tungsten of 3 × 10⁻¹⁰ mol L⁻¹, demonstrating its high sensitivity. The working electrode showed selectivity, signal reproducibility and resistance to the presence of potential interferences. The reliability and applicability of the proposed solution were confirmed by applying the method to the analysis of real environmental samples and certified reference materials, with satisfactory results. The presented analytical procedure represents a promising tool for the routine determination of tungsten in complex real matrices. Full article