Nanoplastics Toxicity Is a Subset of Nanotoxicology, Not a Separate Field.

Nanoplastics toxicity has been framed as an emerging, distinct research area, purportedly addressing a new threat. While this focus has heightened public awareness and influenced the regulation of plastics, isolating nanoplastics toxicity risks inefficiently allocating research resources and hindering sustainable management strategies. Here, using data mining and machine learning, we show that research on nanoplastics toxicity closely mirrors that of engineered nanoparticles, a well-established domain of nanotoxicology.

Transformation of Bisphenols by Gut Microbiota: Insights into Species-Specific Pathways and Toxicity Implications.

The widespread use of bisphenols (BPs) in consumer products has raised significant concerns regarding their environmental fate and potential health impacts. The metabolic processes and transformation products (TPs) of BPs play a crucial role in determining their toxicological effects, with the gut microbiota serving as a key factor. However, studies on transformation of BPs by GM are scarce.

Transformative Forces: The Role of Gut Microbiota in Processing Environmental Pollutants.

The gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in metabolizing exogenous compounds, profoundly influencing their bioavailability and biological effects. With the increasing prevalence of environmental contamination, understanding the gut microbiota's role in transforming pollutants and the underlying mechanisms is essential for assessing the associated environmental and health risks. Here, we review the current knowledge on gut microbiota-mediated transformation reaction, with a focus on the identification of transformation products using advanced predictive tools and mass spectrometry.

Bioaccumulation and Maternal Transfer of Brominated Flame Retardants in Poultry and the Health Risks from Dietary Exposure.

The limitation of legacy hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) and increasing usage of emerging brominated flame retardant (BFR) tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) resulted in their co-exposure to organisms. In this study, domestic chicken and environmental samples collected near a BFR manufacturing zone were analyzed to determine the bioaccumulation and transfer of HBCDs and TBBPA. The mean concentrations of ∑HBCDs, TBBPA, ∑TBBPA-related derivatives, ∑TBBPA-related byproducts, and ∑TBBPA-related transformation products in chicken tissues were 1207, 0.

Assessing polylactic acid (PLA) fiber safety using underwear paddings as a model via nontargeted screening and toxicological risk scoring.

Polylactic acid (PLA) fabrics made from PLA fibers are increasingly being promoted. However, the potential health risks of wearing PLA fabrics remain under explored. This study simulates the washing and drying cycles of underwear with PLA paddings and investigates the leaching of chemical additives in artificial sweat, with the aim of evaluating the exposure concentration levels of various additives in PLA fabrics during wear, subjected to different degrees of mechanical stress.

Prevalence of Polyhalogenated Carbazole in an Anthropogenically Impacted Soil Groundwater System.

It has been proven that highly halogenated conditions could favor the generation of PHCZs in laboratory experiments, which has not been confirmed in the environment. In this study, carbazoles (CZs) and eight polyhalogenated carbazoles (PHCZs) were investigated in the groundwater-surface soil system along the coast of Laizhou Bay, around the main halogen producing areas, covering chemical enterprises, agriculture, aquaculture, and salt fields. The concentrations of PHCZs in surface soil and groundwater samples range from 0.

Split G-Quadruplex-Integrated CRISPR-Cas Biosensor for One-Pot, Signal-On Visual Detection of Pathogen Nucleic Acids.

Pathogen nucleic acid analysis has emerged as an indispensable component of contemporary healthcare systems, serving dual roles in personalized clinical management and population-level disease surveillance. Herein, we present a novel G-quadruplex-integrated CRISPR-Cas biosensing platform that performs in a signal-on mechanism for colorimetric detection of pathogen nucleic acids in one-pot. By harnessing the unique properties of split G4 structures, we develop a universal visual probe that generates a distinct green colorimetric signal upon target recognition, which effectively couples with both Cas12 and Cas13 systems.

Cellular Inflammation-Induced Cleavage of Phosphorothioate DNA Locker Activates CRISPR/Cas9 Regulator for Gene Editing.

The CRISPR technology is a highly promising strategy for developing a versatile toolbox to engineer genetic circuits. However, achieving precise and specific control over the activity of the CRISPR/Cas9 system in response to intracellular processes remains a challenging endeavor. In this study, we present a cellular inflammation-induced activation of an engineered CRISPR/Cas9 regulator for gene regulation.

The effect of mumps vaccine on the incidence of mumps in Hefei: An interrupted time-series analysis.

To quantitatively assess the incremental protective effect of two-dose mumps vaccination in Hefei. Monthly mumps incidence during 2011-2023 were collected. The Interrupted Time Series and Segmented Regression Analyses (ITSA) were employed to evaluate the variations in monthly mumps incidence following the introduction of one-dose mumps-containing vaccine (MuCV) and two-dose measles-mumps-rubella combined attenuated live vaccine (MMR) into the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI).

Organ-specific lithium accumulation and its toxic effects on female reproduction.

Li exposure is becoming a new prominent major issue in energy-environment-health field. However, its reproductive health risk has been less explored. In this study, we find that exposure to 28-fold REED (really environmental exposure dose) of Li is enough to induce mouse miscarriage by altering the structures and functions of placenta.

Hematopoietic responses to metal-organic frameworks in adult mice following pulmonary exposure.

The metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) MIL-100 and NH-MIL-125 have hierarchical structure pores with high adsorption capacities and have therefore been suggested for drug delivery, gas storage, catalysis and chemical sensing. The widespread applications of these MOFs raise concerns about the possible release into the environment and subsequent human exposure. Yet, the available knowledge of the toxicity of these MOFs is rather scarce despite the encouraging applications.

Comprehensive Characterization of Organic Chemicals Associated with Urban Particulate Matter in China.

Atmospheric particulate matter (PM) is considered a health hazard; however, the inadequate identification of the components of PM limits our understanding of its specific toxic pollutants. Herein, by combining three extraction solvents with different polarities (dichloromethane, hexane, and acetonitrile) and three ionization modes (electron ionization and the positive and negative modes of electrospray ionization), we comprehensively analyzed the organic chemicals in the PM and PM samples collected during summer and winter in Beijing. Suspect screening was facilitated by comparison with the mzCloud and the National Institute of Standards and Technology databases for tentatively characterizing chemical identities.

Aryl Organophosphate Esters and Hemostatic Disruption: Identifying Risk through Machine Learning and Experimental Validation.

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) have emerged as a significant environmental concern due to their widespread occurrence and potential human health risks. The presence of OPEs in human blood suggests direct interactions with hematological components, which may compromise hemostatic balance and lead to adverse health outcomes. Despite the critical role of hemostatic balance in maintaining blood stability, the effects of OPEs on this system remain poorly understood.

Perfluorinated compounds exposure and atherogenic risk characteristics in a high-fat diet condition: In vitro/in vivo models and population panel study.

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are a well-recognized environmental risk factor for atherosclerosis. However, corresponding atherogenic risk in susceptible populations consuming high-fat diets (HFDs) remains unclear. Here, we found that perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), a canonical PFCs, elevated the atherogenic risk in mice fed with HFD, which was characterized by an increased number of pro-inflammatory phenotype macrophages.

Heterogeneous Single-Cell Distribution of Trace-Level Metal Mixtures in Using Mass Cytometry.

The uptake of heavy metals by unicellular organisms can lead to the bioaccumulation of these metals in higher organisms, detrimentally affecting organismal health and ultimately impacts the ecosystems. By studying the uptake and accumulation of heavy metals in unicellular organisms, we gain insights into potential risks associated with low-dose heavy metal exposure in aquatic environments. Thus, to investigate the accumulation characteristics of Mo, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb, Hg, Tl, and Pb mixtures in single cells, we developed a label-free approach for the simultaneous absolute quantification of multiple metals in a single cell using mass cytometry.

Study on the Correlation Between Double-Stranded DNA and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is a large molecule that plays a central role in the pathogenesis of SLE. It is the target antigen of autoantibodies and the main component of immune complexes. Due to the large differences in the content of cfDNA detected in different studies, cfDNA cannot be used as a strong diagnostic basis for SLE at present.

Distinct Effects between Polystyrene Micro- and Nanoplastics: Exacerbation of Adverse Outcomes in Inflammatory Bowel Disease-like Zebrafish and Mice.

Numerous studies have demonstrated that micro- and nanoplastics can induce adverse effects in both zebrafish and mice, primarily targeting the intestine in oral exposure scenarios. Organisms under disease conditions are suggested to exhibit increased susceptibility to environmental pollutants, with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) serving as a relevant model for understanding toxicity initiated in a diseased intestine. Here, we compared the adverse outcomes of polystyrene micro- (PSMPs) and nanoplastics (PSNPs) in both normal and IBD-like zebrafish and mouse models.

Exploring Environmental Behaviors and Health Impacts of Biodegradable Microplastics.

Biodegradable plastics (BPs) are promoted as eco-friendly alternatives to conventional plastics. However, compared to conventional microplastics (MPs), they degrade rapidly into biodegradable microplastics (BMPs), which may lead to a more significant accumulation of BMPs in the environment. This review systematically compares BMPs and MPs, summarizes current knowledge on their environmental behaviors and impacts on ecosystems and human health, and offers recommendations for future research.

Unraveling the Exposure Spectrum of PFAS in Fluorochemical Occupational Workers: Structural Diversity, Temporal Trends, and Risk Prioritization.

Despite extensive poly/perfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) discovery studies in various samples, the exposure spectrum in fluorochemical occupational workers remains largely unexplored. Here, serum samples from 28 workers at a fluorochemical facility were analyzed using nontarget techniques, identifying 64 PFAS classes, including 15 novel ones such as pentafluorosulfur ether-substituted perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids, hydrogen-substituted perfluoroalkylamines, and perfluoroalkylsulfonyl protocatechualdehyde esters. Temporal trend analyses (2008-2018) revealed stable levels for most PFAS but an increase in perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), suggesting industrial shifts from long-chain PFAS to short-chain homologues in China since the early 2010s.

Size-dependent internalization of gold nanoparticles in individual Tetrahymena thermophila characterized by single-cell mass cytometry.

Aquatic organisms are inevitably exposed to metallic nanoparticles (NPs) in natural environments, leading to potential harm, ecological disruption, and environmental pollution concerns. Importantly, the size of NPs plays a critical role in influencing their uptake by these organisms. Utilizing mass cytometry, we investigated the internalization characteristics of different-sized gold NPs (AuNPs) in an unicellular ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila, under a low exposure concentration of 1 ngmL.

From High Resolution Tandem Mass Spectrometry to Pollutant Toxicity AI-Based Prediction: A Case Study of 7 Endocrine Disruptors Endpoints.

Based on high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), nontarget analysis (NTA) can rapidly identify and characterize numerous hazardous substances in complex environmental samples. However, the intricate identification process often results in the underutilization of many mass spectrometry features. Even when chemical structures are identified, their toxicological effects and health outcomes may remain unknown.

Associations of urinary essential metals and their mixture with metabolic syndrome and its components among Chinese community-dwelling older adults.

Background: Little is known regarding the joint effect of multiple essential metals (EMs) on metabolic syndrome (MetS). This study aimed to investigate individual and overall correlations of EMs with MetS and its components among Chinese community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: Six urine EMs, including molybdenum (Mo), vanadium (V), selenium (Se), calcium (Ca), cobalt (Co), and magnesium (Mg), were measured using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) in 2222 older adults.

Suspect and Nontarget Analysis of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Groundwater Underlying Different Land-Use Areas.

Groundwater can be contaminated by PFAS emissions, yet research on the presence and associated risks of PFAS in groundwater underlying different land-use areas remains limited. Herein, high-resolution mass spectrometry-based suspect and nontarget analyses were performed to determine PFAS occurrence in groundwater samples obtained from a rural area, a planting region, and the vicinities of a pharmaceutical park, an airport, and an industrial park in Datong City, China. A total of 31 PFAS (16 emerging and 15 legacy PFAS) were identified, and the ΣPFAS concentrations ranged from 0.

Exploring factors influencing the spatial distribution and seasonal changes of BPA, TBBPA, and 20 analogs in China's marginal seas.

As emerging pollutants, bisphenol A (BPA), tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and its analogs have become widespread in the coastal environment of China. To investigate the occurrence of these novel contaminants in Chinese marginal sea, 176 seawater and 88 sediment samples were collected from the Yellow Sea and East China Sea. In seawater and sediment, the detection rates of TBBPA are 83.