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This study investigated geospatial distributions of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the waters of the Dongjiang River and their associations with anthropogenic activities. Fifteen EDCs, with total concentrations in the river water of 149-2525 ng/L were detected, with bisphenol-A, 4-nonylphenol, 4-tert-octylphenol, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and methylparaben being the five predominant EDCs. The total estrogen concentration was high downstream and significantly correlated with the spatial distribution of urban land use, wastewater discharge, population, and gross domestic product, indicating human activities have increased estrogen levels and threatened ecological health. The total risk quotient indicated a high ecological risk of estrogens to fish and a moderate to high ecological risk of personal care products to algae. Estrone, triclosan, bisphenol-A, 4-nonylphenol, and 4-tert-octylphenol were categorized as priority pollutants, which required special concern. Triclosan and triclocarban can serve as reliable chemical indicators for predicting EDC levels based on correlation analysis. The crucial factors affecting EDC levels were identified through the Mantel test and predictor importance was quantified using a multiple regression model, which can help predict occurrences and geospatial distributions of EDCs. Total phosphorus and electrical conductivity were the major predictors of EDC levels, providing promising indicators for monitoring EDCs in river water. Urban land proportion significantly affected phenolic environmental estrogens, natural estrogens, and disinfectants. In the main stream, urban population, urbanization rate, and gross domestic product influenced phenolic environmental estrogen levels. A mini-review of the global distribution of EDCs in river water revealed that income and population differences among countries affect their occurrence, suggesting socioeconomic factors should be considered to mitigate EDC pollution., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Triclosan, a widely used antimicrobial agent, is frequently detected in aquatic environments, prompting concerns about its toxic effects on aquatic species. Understanding its occurrence and ecological risks is crucial for mitigating triclosan contamination, formulating water quality criteria, and protecting aquatic organisms. This study systematically analyzed triclosan occurrence and ecological risks in surface water across China using the Risk Quotient methodology. A total of 139 and 134 data points were collected for triclosan concentrations and toxicities of aquatic organisms, respectively. Triclosan concentrations in surface water across China ranged from 0.06 to 612 ng/L. Higher triclosan levels were observed in Eastern China compared to Central and Western China, with the average concentration being 4.21- and 7.25-fold higher, respectively. Specifically, the Southeast Rivers Basin (132.98 ng/L) and Pearl River Basin (86.64 ng/L) exhibited maximum triclosan levels, 2.57-19.58 times higher than the other river basins. Further analysis revealed elevated triclosan concentrations in small rivers and surface water within residential areas, with values of 246.1 ng/L in Zhejiang, 86.64 ng/L in Guangdong, 67.58 ng/L in Jiangsu, and 127.99 ng/L in Beijing. Additionally, species sensitivity distribution curves indicated that algae was the most sensitive species to triclosan exposure, followed by invertebrates, while fish exhibited the highest tolerance. The Predicted No-Effect Concentration for the algae, invertebrates, fish, and combined aquatic species were determined to be 0.09, 2.95, 4.44, and 1.51 μg/L, respectively. The occurrence of triclosan in surface water across China did not pose widespread ecological risks. However, targeted monitoring and mitigation efforts are needed, especially in highly developed regions. This study provides crucial insights into the status of triclosan contaminations and risks in China and contributes valuable knowledge to global efforts aimed at safeguarding aquatic ecosystems., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Parabens, bisphenols (BPs), and triclosan (TCS) are common environmental phenols widely applied in industrial products, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products. They are endocrine disruptors and pervade the natural environment, causing significant detrimental impacts on ecosystems, including marine habitats. Therefore, in this study, 40 samples comprising coral polyps, algae, and sediments were collected from Sanya, Hainan Province, China, in which the presence and compositional profiles of parabens, BPs, and TCS were examined to identify their fate in the oceans. The results unveiled the ubiquitous occurrence of at least one paraben or bisphenol in all samples, with TCS detected in over 80% of cases. Notably, coral samples contained the most contaminants (median concentration: 9.42 ng/g dry weight-dw), followed by sediment samples (5.95 ng/g dw) and algal samples (3.58 ng/g dw). Attributed to their broadest application, methylparaben (MeP) and propylparaben (PrP) emerged as the primary paraben constituents. MeP displayed the highest median concentration in coral samples (4.42 ng/g dw), probably related to its high-water solubility and the filtration mechanism employed by the coral polyps during seawater intake. Intriguingly, bisphenol P (BPP) superseded bisphenol A (BPA) as the dominant bisphenol, especially in the algal samples, probably owing to the lipophilic character of BPP and the enhanced biodegradability of BPA within aquatic environments. The highest concentration of TCS (3.44 ng/g dw) was found in the sediment samples, associated with its long half-life in the sediments. Furthermore, the correlation between multiple parabens and TCS implies their co-use to augment antimicrobial efficacy. Future research should prioritize the examination of these phenols in diverse marine environmental media. Corresponding toxicological experiments should be conducted to visualize their transport dynamics, degradation byproducts, and toxicity to marine biota to gain insights into the risks they pose to the marine ecosystem., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The consumption of contaminated aquatic products may expose humans to residues of parabens, triclosan (TCS), and triclocarban (TCC). Despite its significance, empirical research on this issue remains limited. In this study, we employed high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) to analyze extracts from 245 aquatic product samples collected randomly from local markets in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province. Our analysis detected at least one of the five parabens-methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (MeP), ethyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (EtP), propyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (PrP), butyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (BuP), and benzyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (BeP)-in 88 samples (35.9%). TCS and TCC were found in 50.6% and 51.4% of the samples, respectively, with MeP being the most frequently detected paraben. Significant negative correlations were observed between TCS and MeP (r = -0.129, p < 0.05) and between TCC and MeP (r = -0.176, p < 0.05), indicating potential different sources for these contaminants. Residue levels varied among different types of aquatic products, with TCS and TCC concentrations being higher in fish compared to crustaceans and bivalves. The health risk associated with consuming these contaminants was found to be minimal for both males and females. This study provides valuable insights into the dietary risks associated with exposure to parabens, TCS, and TCC., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Ingestion of breast milk represents the primary exposure pathway for endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in newborns. To elucidate the associated risks, it is essential to quantify EDC levels in both breast milk and infant urine. This study measured the concentrations of 13 EDCs, including parabens (methyl paraben (MP), ethyl paraben (EP), propyl paraben (PP), iso-propyl paraben, butyl paraben, and iso-butyl paraben), bisphenols (bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol F, bisphenol S, bisphenol AF, and bisphenol Z), triclosan (TCS), and triclocarban, in breast milk and infant urine to assess their potential health effects and endocrine disruption risks. In total, 1 014 breast milk samples were collected from 20 cities across China, along with 144 breast milk samples and 134 urine samples from a mother-infant cohort in Hangzhou. The EDCs were detected using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Endocrine-disrupting potency was evaluated using a predictive method based on EDC affinity for 15 hormone receptor proteins. The toxicological priority index (ToxPi), incorporating population exposure data, was employed to assess health risks associated with exposure to multiple EDCs. Among the 13 EDCs, MP, EP, PP, BPA, and TCS were detected in over 50 % of breast milk samples, with the highest median concentrations observed for MP (0.37 ng/mL), EP (0.29 ng/mL), and BPA (0.17 ng/mL). Across the 20 cities, 0 %-40 % of infants had a hazard index (HI) exceeding 1. Based on affinity prediction analysis and estimated exposure, cumulative endocrine disruption risk intensity was ranked as MP > TCS > BPA > EP > PP. This research highlights the extensive exposure of Chinese infants to EDCs, offering a detailed analysis of their varying endocrine disruption potencies and underscoring the significant health risks associated with EDCs in breast milk., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Biocides are present in personal care (including preservatives or antibacterials), pest control, and disinfectant products (including non-agricultural insecticides, fungicides, and disinfectants), and their long-term exposure may induce adverse health effects in humans. Therefore, in this study, we assessed the exposure levels and major exposure predictors of biocides among nationally representative Korean adults. The target group included adults (≥19 years) participating in the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) 2015-2020. We employed survey-weighted multiple regression analysis and conditional inference trees analysis to assess the associations between demographic characteristics, behavioral sources (including personal care product use, pesticide use, and dietary patterns), and urinary levels of phenol (triclosan [TCS]), parabens (methyl paraben [MP], ethyl paraben [EP], propyl paraben [PP], and butyl paraben [BP]), and the pyrethroid insecticide metabolite (3-phenoxybenzoic acid [3-PBA]). Urinary EP, BP, and 3-PBA levels were higher in South Korean adults compared with those in Western countries. Major exposure predictors for MP, EP, and PP included the use of personal care products such as sunscreen, makeup, and hair care products in KoNEHS 2018-2020. Major exposure predictors for TCS and BP were vegetable consumption, and those for 3-PBA were mosquitocide use during summer in KoNEHS 2018-2020. However, these predictors were not observed in KoNEHS 2015-2017. Collectively, our findings suggest that biocide exposure predictors vary according to changes in product use and diet habits of individuals. Therefore, developing strategies to mitigate biocide exposure based on the demographic and behavioral characteristics of the general population is imperative., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Microplastic (MP) contamination is in the spotlight today, yet knowledge of their interaction with other organic contaminants in the soil environment is limited. Concerns extend to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), known for their potential to interfere with the hormonal systems of organisms and for their persistence and widespread presence in the environment. In this study, the most frequently occurring EDCs were monitored both in alluvial soil and in soil contaminated with different MPs commonly found in soil media, polyethylene, polyamide, and polystyrene. Bisphenol A and parabens were the most rapidly dissipating compounds, followed by triclosan and triclocarban, with the latter showing poor degradation. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) showed high persistence as concentrations remained nearly constant throughout the experiment. Although they fitted well with first-order dissipation kinetics, most showed biphasic behavior. The co-occurrence of MPs in the soil influenced the kinetic behavior in most cases although the differences were not very marked. MPs could impact sorption-desorption processes, affecting contaminant mobility and bioavailability to organisms in soil. These findings strengthen evidence for the influence of MPs on the behavior of soil contaminants such as EDCs, not only as vectors or sources of contaminants but by affecting dissipation kinetics., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Environmental phenols are widely distributed in the environment and human samples, suggesting potential exposure to these chemicals. We designed an intervention trial with 30 participants over 6 days to assess the urinary concentrations and half-lives of environmental phenols in Japanese young people. The target environmental phenols include three parabens (methyl paraben, ethyl paraben, and propyl paraben), two benzophenones (benzophenone 1 and 3), two bisphenols (bisphenol F and bisphenol S), and triclosan. Throughout the intervention, the participants consumed the same food and drinks and used personal care products provided by the project. The target phenols were measured in urine from the participants using a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometer. We compared the measured concentrations between the study periods to better understand the exposure tendency. Some statistically significant differences were observed. All target analytes were detected in more than 50% of samples collected on Day 0 (the day before the intervention). Methyl paraben was the dominant phenol detected in urine (1640 μg/g-creatinine), followed by ethyl paraben (119 μg/g-creatinine). Downward trends in creatinine-corrected concentrations were observed for all target analytes in some instances. Non-compartment analysis was performed to estimate urinary excretion parameters. The estimated half-lives ranged from 7.69 to 20.3 h. Use of paraben-free products during the intervention period reduced the body burden., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests:Tomohiko Isobe reports financial support was provided by Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency. Tomohiko Isobe reports financial support was provided by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In this study, the occurrence and environmental risks related to triclosan (TCS) in the two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) were investigated in Isfahan, Iran. Influent and effluent samples were collected and analyzed by dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME)-GC-MS method with derivatization. Moreover, the risk of TCS exposure was conducted for aquatic organisms (algae, crustaceans, and fishes) and humans (males and females). TCS mean concentrations in influent and effluent of WWTPs were in the range of 3.70-52.99 and 0.83-1.09 μg/L, respectively. There were also no differences in the quantity of TCS and physicochemical parameters among the two WWTPs. The mean risk quotient (RQ) for TCS was higher than 1 (in algae) with dilution factors (DF s ) equal to 1 in WWTP1. Moreover, the RQ value was higher than 1 for humans based on the reference dose of MDH (RFD MDH ) in WWTP1. Furthermore, TCS concentration in wastewater effluent was the influential factor in varying the risk of TCS exposure. The results of the present study showed the risk of TCS exposure from the discharge of effluent of WWTP1 was higher than WWTP2. Moreover, the results of this study may be suitable for promoting WWTP processes to completely remove micropollutants.

Microalgal-bacterial symbiosis (MABS) system performs synergistic effect on the reduction of nutrients and carbon emissions in the water treatment process. However, antimicrobial agents are frequently detected in water, which influence the performance of MABS system. In this study, triclosan (TCS) was selected to reveal the effects and mechanisms of antimicrobial agents on MABS system. Results showed that the removal efficiencies of chemical oxygen demand, NH 4 + -N and total phosphorus decreased by 3.0%, 24.0% and 14.3% under TCS stress. In contrast, there were no significant decrease on the removal effect of total nitrogen. Mechanism analysis showed that both the growth rate of microorganisms and the nutrients retention capacity of extracellular polymeric substances were decreased. The intracellular accumulation for nitrogen and phosphorus was promoted due to the increased cytomembrane permeability caused by lipid peroxidation. Moreover, microalgae were dominant in MABS system with ratio between microalgae and bacteria of more than 5.49. The main genus was Parachlorella, with abundance of more than 90%. Parachlorella was highly tolerant to TCS, which might be conductive to maintain its survival. This study revealed the nutrients pathways of MABS system under TCS stress, and helped to optimize the operation of MABS system., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Triclosan (TCS), a synthetic and broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent, is frequently detected in various environmental matrices. A novel TCS degrading bacterial strain, Burkholderia sp. L303, was isolated from local activated sludge. The strain could metabolically degrade TCS up to 8 mg/L, and optimal conditions for TCS degradation were at temperature of 35 °C, pH 7, and an increased inoculum size. During TCS degradation, several intermediates were identified, with the initial degradation occurring mainly through hydroxylation of aromatic ring, followed by dechlorination. Further intermediates such as 2-chlorohydroquinone, 4-chlorocatechol, and 4-chlorophenol were produced via ether bond fission and C-C bond cleavage, which could be further transformed into unchlorinated compounds, ultimately resulting in the complete stoichiometric free chloride release. Bioaugmentation of strain L303 in non-sterile river water demonstrated better degradation than in sterile water. Further exploration of the microbial communities provided insights into the composition and succession of the microbial communities under the TCS stress as well as during the TCS biodegradation process in real water samples, the key microorganisms involved in TCS biodegradation or showing resistance to the TCS toxicity, and the changes in microbial diversity related to exogenous bioaugmentation, TCS input, and TCS elimination. These findings shed light on the metabolic degradation pathway of TCS and highlight the significance of microbial communities in the bioremediation of TCS-contaminated environments., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Parabens and triclosan (TCS) have been extensively applied in personal care products (PCPs) as preservatives and antibacterial agents. However, their potentiality to disrupt the neurological system has induced increasing concern. The elderly population is at a higher risk of neurodegenerative disorder, although research on its association with PCP exposure remains scarce. Here, we measured the urinary levels of four parabens, TCS, and an oxidative stress marker among 540 participants from the Shenzhen aging-related disorder cohort during 2017-2018. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used to assess the cognitive status of participants. Their demographic, dietary, and behavioral factors were collected via questionnaire survey. Among the four paraben analogs, the median concentration of methyl parabens (MeP) was the highest (Low-risk group: 1.21 ng/mL, High-risk group: 1.64 ng/mL). TCS and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) were detected in more than 90% of the samples. Weighted quantile sum regression and quantile-based g-computation showed that the combined effect of all analytes was positively associated with the level of 8-OHdG. BtP, EtP and MeP were identified as the major contributors to the joint effect. After stratification by gender, females exhibited more pronounced changes in urinary 8-OHdG level than males. However, the positive correlation between co-exposure to parabens and TCS and cognitive impairment was not significant (p > 0.05) in both models, which warrants investigation with the larger sample size., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Bisphenols, parabens, alkylphenols and triclosan are anthropogenic substances with a phenolic group that have been introduced to the environment in recent decades. As they possess hormone-like effects, they have been termed endocrine disruptors (EDs), and can interfere with steroid pathways in organisms. To evaluate the potential impact of EDs on steroid biosynthesis and metabolism, sensitive and robust methods enabling the concurrent measurement of EDs and steroids in plasma are needed. Of crucial importance is the analysis of unconjugated EDs, which possess biological activity. The aim of the study was to develop and validate LC-MS/MS methods with and without a derivatization step for the analysis of unconjugated steroids (estrone-E1, estradiol-E2, estriol-E3, aldosterone-ALDO) and different groups of EDs (bisphenols, parabens, nonylphenol-NP and triclosan-TCS), and compare these methods on a set of 24 human plasma samples using Passing-Bablok regression analysis. Both methods were validated according to FDA and EMA guidelines. The method with dansyl chloride derivatization allowed 17 compounds to be measured: estrogens (E1, E2, E3), bisphenols (bisphenol A-BPA, BPS, BPF, BPAF, BPAP, BPZ, BPP), parabens (methylparaben-MP, ethylparaben-EP, propylparaben-PP, butylparaben-BP, benzylparaben-BenzylP), TCS and NP, with lower limits of quantification (LLOQs) between 4 and 125 pg/mL. The method without derivatization enabled 15 compounds to be analyzed: estrogens (E1, E2, E3), ALDO, bisphenols (BPA, BPS, BPF, BPAF, BPAP, BPZ), parabens (MP, EP, PP, BP, BenzylP) with LLOQs between 2 and 63 pg/mL, and NP and BPP in semiquantitative mode. Adding 6 mM ammonium fluoride post column into mobile phases in the method without derivatization achieved similar or even better LLOQs than the method with the derivatization step. The uniqueness of the methods lies in the simultaneous determination of different classes of unconjugated (bioactive) fraction of EDs together with selected steroids (estrogens + ALDO in the method without derivatization), which provides a useful tool for evaluating the relationships between EDs and steroid metabolism., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Triclosan （TCS）， triclocarban （TCC）， and p -chloro- m -xylenol （PCMX） are some of the most widely used antibiotics because of their broad-spectrum and highly-efficient bactericidal effects. In the context of disinfection， the National Standard GB 38598-2020 stipulates that the contents of the effective ingredients present in a disinfectant must be specified， wherein their range must fall within 90%-110% of the specified central value. To ensure a suitable product quality， analysis by high performance liquid chromatography （HPLC） is recommended by both the GB/T 27947-2020 and GB/T 34856-2017. However， the results analyzed according to the National Standard method often exceed the declared contents， thereby indicating the necessity to establish a new method based on a completely different principle （e. g.， capillary electrophoresis）， especially since it was not possible to analyze TCS， TCC， and PCMX in a single injection using the National Standard method. Moreover， using this method， large amounts of methanol were consumed， which could be potentially harmful to both operators and the environment. In terms of their water solubilities， this decreases in the order of PCMX>TCS>TCC， wherein TCC is insoluble in water. As such， the use of nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis （NACE） based on running buffer solutions prepared in pure organic solvents （e. g.， methanol or acetonitrile） is necessary. In this paper， a new NACE approach combined with an ultraviolet detection method was developed for the simultaneous analysis of TCS， TCC， and PCMX in disinfectants， personal care products， and ointments. For this purpose， an uncoated fused silica capillary （20 cm×50 μm， total length=30.2 cm） was used as the separation column with a separation buffer composed of 14 mmol/L sodium borate， 2 g/L polyethylene glycol （PEG） 20000， and 0.5 mmol/L dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide （DTAB） in methanol. Following optimization of the separation parameters， the complete and simultaneous separation of TCS， TCC， and PCMX was achieved when the sample solution was prepared using 5 g/L PEG 20000 in methanol-acetonitrile （50∶50， v/v）. It was possible to directly inject the sample into the analysis system after a simple dilution with the sample medium， and no interference was observed in any of the sample electropherograms when a separation voltage and detection wavelength of -12 kV and 214 nm were employed， respectively. Furthermore， TCS， TCC， and PCMX showed good linear relationships with their corrected peak areas within a mass concentration range of 1-100 mg/L， and the correlation coefficients （ r ） were all greater than 0.99. Moreover， the limits of detection （LODs， S/N =3） and limits of quantification （LOQs， S/N =10） were determined to be 0.2 and 1 mg/L， respectively. The spiked recoveries ranged from 94.5% to 104.4% with relative standard deviations of ≤4.8% in all cases. Subsequently， the established method was used to analyze 31 commercial samples， including hand sanitizer， disinfectant， baby powder， and antibacterial cream. A comparative analysis of HPLC， the developed NACE method， and our previously reported micellar electrokinetic chromatographic （MEKC） method was also carried out for the quantitative determination of TCS， TCC， and PCMX. Although no statistically significant differences were observed among the three methods， the results determined for 16 out of the 31 samples did not match the claimed contents. These results therefore indicate the necessity to further control the compositions of disinfectant products. Our results indicate that the newly established NACE method can be an important alternative to HPLC for routine laboratory analyses， especially considering that it minimizes waste generation， requires only a simple sample pretreatment process， and exhibits a good selectivity to the target compounds. It is therefore hoped that the NACE method will be incorporated into the National Standard method in the near future.

The co-existence of contaminants such as triclosan (TCS) and Cadmium in wastewater is a major public health problem because of their persistence and toxicity. In this study, bio-reduced graphene oxide (B-rGO) synthesized by Lysinibacillus sp. Simultaneously remove TCS and Cd(II), with adsorption capacities of 81.91 and 23.32 mg g -1 , for TCS and Cd (Ⅱ), respectively. This was significantly higher than that previously reported for commercially available reduced graphene oxide (C-rGO), which was only 31.94 and 2.01 mg g -1 , for TCS and Cd (Ⅱ), respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed that rGO surface-bound extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) played a key role in the observed enhanced contaminant removal, which was verified by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). In addition, the absorption of both Cd(II) and TCS on B-rGO was confirmed by XPS and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-UV). The adsorption kinetics of both TCS and Cd(II) fitted well to the pseudo-second-order model, while the adsorption isotherms of Cd(II) followed the Langmuir model, and triclosan the Freundlich model. A mechanism of simultaneous removal of TCS was proposed based on π-π interactions and hydrogen bonding, while Cd(II) was removed by a combination of electrostatic and chelation/complexation. Finally, the adsorption of TCS and Cd(II) by B-rGO in real wastewater was shown to be 76.67 and 16.53 mg g -1 , respectively, demonstrating that B-rGO has the potential for practical simultaneous removal of TCS and Cd(II) from wastewater., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A model was developed to simulate the pH-dependent speciation and fate of ionizable pharmaceutical and personal care products (iPPCPs) in soils and their plant uptake during thedt application of reclaimed wastewater to agricultural soils. The simulation showed that pH plays an important role in regulating the plant uptake of iPPCPs, i.e., ibuprofen (IBU; with a carboxylic group), triclosan (TCS; phenolic group), and fluoxetine (FXT; amine group) as model compounds. It took 89-487 days for various iPPCPs to reach the steady-state concentrations in soil and plant tissues. The simulated steady-state concentrations of iPPCPs in plant tissues at pH 9 is 2.2-2.3, 2.5-2.6, and 1.07-1.08 times that at pH 5 for IBU, TCS, and FXT, respectively. Assuming sorption only for neutral compounds led to miscalculation of iPPCPs concentrations in plant tissues by up to one and half orders magnitude. Efflux of compounds in soil, lettuce leaf, and soybean pods was primarily contributed by their degradation in soil and dilution due to plant tissue growth. Overall, the results demonstrated the importance of considering pH and speciation of iPPCPs when simulating their fate in the soil-plant system and plant uptake., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The quest for safe water due to exponential population growth and climate change has stressed the existing available water source. It is crucial to establish the present pollution level of the Asa River and the health risk it may pose to the people. Samples were collected along the Asa River, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria, and treated using standard methods as stipulated by United States Environmental Protection Agency. The treated samples were analyzed and quantified for dieldrin, endrin, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane metabolites, mirex, hexachlorocyclohexane, hexachlorobenzene, and triclosan using the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The result showed that the levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) ranged from 0.0045-0.947 μg/kg, 0.0036-0.093 μg/kg, and 0.001-0.007 μg/L in sediment, soil, and water samples, respectively. While the mean concentration of triclosan is 3.78 μg/kg, 2.995 μg/kg, and 0.064 μg/L in sediment, soil, and water samples, respectively. The levels of OCPs were lower than the limits in drinking water as set by World Health Organization and European Union. Health risk assessment for both children and adults was evaluated using non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk with the hazard quotient (HQ) and was found to be greater than unity (> 1) in children for the targeted OCPs. Associated cancer risk for OCPs ranged from low cancer risk to moderate risk for humans. The adverse ecological effects of OCPs showed to be very rare to occur and frequent effects may not likely occur except for HCH., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Bisphenol A (BPA), 4-nonylphenol (4-NP), and triclosan (TCS) are phenolic endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which are widely detected in aquatic environments and further bioaccumulated and metabolized in fish. Physiologically based toxicokinetic (PBTK) models have been used to describe the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) of parent compounds in fish, whereas the metabolites are less explored. In this study, a PBTK incorporating metabolism (PBTK-MT) model for BPA, 4-NP, and TCS was established to enhance the performance of the traditional PBTK model. The PBTK-MT model comprised 16 compartments, showing great accuracy in predicting the internal concentrations of three compounds and their glucuronidated and sulfated conjugates in fish. The impact of typical hepatic metabolism on the PBTK-MT model was successfully resolved by optimizing the mechanism for deriving the partition coefficients between the blood and liver. The PBTK-MT model exhibited a potential data gap-filling capacity for unknown parameters through a backward extrapolation approach of parameters. Model sensitivity analysis suggested that only five parameters were sensitive in at least two PBTK-MT models, while most parameters were insensitive. The PBTK-MT model will contribute to a well understanding of the environmental behavior and risks of pollutants in aquatic biota., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Although the toxicity of triclosan (TCS) and galaxolide (HHCB) in freshwater has been reported, little study is shed light on their molecular toxicity mechanism and the regulation of humic acid (HA). In this work, freshwater algae E. gracilis was selected to explore these processes, and the molecular toxicity mechanism was analyzed by metabolomics. TCS was more toxic to E. gracilis than HHCB at 1 d exposure with the EC 50 value of 0.76 mg L -1 , but HHCB showed a higher toxicity as the exposure time prolonged. HA could alleviate the toxicity of TCS and HHCB, mainly due to the inhibition of TCS uptake and oxidative stress, respectively. The perturbations on a number of antioxidant defense-related metabolites in response to TCS or HHCB also indicated oxidative stress was a main toxicity mechanism. However, the exposure to HHCB resulted in more pronounced perturbations in the purine metabolism than TCS, implying that HHCB may pose a genetic toxicity on algae. It may explain the higher toxicity of HHCB to algae as the exposure time increased. These findings provide a comprehensive understanding on the ecological risks of TCS or HHCB in natural waters., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Reduced graphene oxide (RGO) is one of common carbon nanomaterials, which is widely used in various fields. Triclosan is an antimicrobial agent added in pharmaceuticals and personal care products. Extensive release of RGO and triclosan has posed potential risks to humans and the environment. The impact of RGO on the fate of triclosan in paddy soil is poorly known. 14 C-Triclosan was employed in the present study to determine its distribution, degradation and mineralization in paddy soil mixed with RGO. Compared with the control, RGO (500 mg kg -1 ) significantly inhibited the mineralization of 14 C-triclosan, and reduced its extractability by 6.5%. The bound residues of triclosan in RGO-contaminated soil (100 and 500 mg kg -1 ) were 2.9-13.3% greater than that of the control at 112 d. RGO also accelerated the dissipation of triclosan, and its degradation products in both treatments and controls were tentatively identified via 14 C-labeling method and LC-Q-TOF-MS analysis. The concentrations of the major metabolites (methyl-triclosan and dechlorinated dimer) were inversely related with the concentrations of RGO. RGO at 50 mg kg -1 or lower had a negligible effect on the degradation of triclosan in paddy soil. Triclosan was strongly adsorbed onto RGO-contaminated soil, which may play a vital role in the fate of triclosan in RGO-contaminated paddy soil. Interestingly, RGO had little effect on triclosan-degrading bacteria via soil microbial community analysis. This study helps understand the effects of RGO on the transformation of triclosan in paddy soil, which is of significance to evaluate the environmental risk of triclosan in RGO-contaminated soil., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Triclosan (TCS) is commonly used as a biocide against bacterial and fungal infections. The overuse of TCS has resulted in its abundance in the natural environment. Sulfate radicals have been used for in-situ groundwater remediation because of their superior performance. In this study, Co-Fe/Al oxidation electrodes were prepared to investigate the effect of electrode configurations on TCS remediation using electrokinetic geooxidation (ECGO) technology coupled with peroxymonosulfate (PMS) in a soil system. The Co-Fe/Al electrodes catalyzed the activity of PMS by solid-phase Co 2+ to produce sulfate radicals. Four electrode configurations, named G1-G4, applying a potential gradient of 2 V/cm, were conducted for ten days in all experiments. Results showed that 14.2-66.2% of TCS remediation efficiency was observed. TCS was mainly degraded by the Co-Fe/Al electrode and sulfate radicals rather than being removed by the electroosmotic flow. The degradation efficiencies of the G4 system (66.0%) and the G2 or G3 system (36.6% or 64.4%, respectively) were much higher than that of the G1 system. (13.5%). Three regions (effective, ineffective, and enhanced) were classified to explore the effect of the electric field on TCS remediation. The arrangement of the honeycomb cells was related to the area of enhanced region in the system, in which the superior remediation performance of the TCS was found. Therefore, TCS remediation performance is highly related to the electrode configuration and honeycomb arrangement in the system. The seven-unit honeycomb system (G4) demonstrated a linear and centralized arrangement, resulting in fast migration and excellent degradation of the TCS., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Triclosan (TCS) and triclocarban (TCC) are antimicrobial agents that have been used in personal care and consumer products in the past decades. In this study, influent, effluent, and sludge samples collected in selected wastewater treatment plants across the Durban metropolis were qualitatively and quantitatively investigated. It was revealed that the concentration of TCS ranged from 1.906 to 73.462 µg/L, from 1.732 to 6.980 µg/L, and from 0.138 to 2.455 µg/kg in influent, effluent, and sludge samples, respectively. The concentrations of TCC were found to be between 0.320 and 45.261 µg/L,

Triclosan (2,4,4'-trichloro-2'-hydroxy-diphenyl ether, TCS) is widely used in personal care and household products. It is ubiquitous across the ecosystem nowadays. Several in vitro and in vi vo studies have suggested the possible adverse effects of TCS on male reproductive health. However, little research has been done on human beings, especially in eastern countries. To assess the effects of TCS exposure on male fecundity, we recruited couples who planned to conceive and went to the preconception care clinics for physical examination in Shanghai, China. TCS was quantified in male urine samples collected at enrollment. For this study, 443 couples were included in the cohort, and 74.7% of couples ( n = 331) were prospectively followed 12 months later. The outcomes of interest included the pregnancy status of their wives and time to pregnancy. Elevated male urinary TCS concentrations were found to be associated with diminished fecundability (fecundability odds ratio (FOR) 0.77; 95% CI, 0.62-0.97). The risk of infertility significantly increased (OR = 1.6; 95% CI, 1-2.6) as TCS levels elevated. Besides, we divided TCS concentration into tertiles a priori , and there tended to be a dose-response pattern in both analyses. Our findings suggest that environmental exposure to TCS may have an adverse impact on male fecundity., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Zhu, Xie, Zhao, Zhang and Zhang.)

Triclosan (TCS) is an organic substance showing antibacterial action, which is commonly used in many branches of industry, including, among others, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and the food industry. TCS may penetrate into living organisms and negatively affect the health of humans and animals. The majority of previous investigations on TCS biomonitoring in humans have been performed on urine, but currently, studies on hair samples are becoming increasingly important. The aim of this study was to evaluate TCS concentration levels in residents of Olsztyn, a city in northeastern Poland, using a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry technique. The presence of TCS was observed in 96.7% of samples tested, with concentration levels from 37.9 pg/mg to 3386.5 pg/mg. The mean concentration level of TCS in the present study was 402.6 (±803.6) pg/mg, and the median value was 103.3 pg/mg. Although there were some differences in TCS concentration levels between males and females, humans of various ages and humans with colored and natural hair had no statistically significant differences in TCS concentration levels. The obtained results have clearly indicated that people living in northeastern Poland are exposed to TCS to a large degree, and hair analysis, despite some limitations, is a suitable method for TCS biomonitoring in humans.

Triclosan is a widely used biocide against microorganisms and is ubiquitously distributed in the environment. Triclosan can be accumulated into plants from soil and hydroponic media. However, little information is currently available on the comparative fate of triclosan in plants under soil and hydroponics cultivation conditions and factors governing uptake. Therefore, this study was designed to comparatively elucidate the uptake mechanism of 14 C-triclosan in youdonger (Brassica campestris subsp. Chinensis var. communis) grown under different soils and hydroponics and clarify dominant uptake factors. Results showed that 77.2% of 14 C were accumulated in youdonger grown in a hydroponic system, while only 1.24%-2.33% were accumulated in the two soil-planting systems. In addition, the bioconcentration factor (BCF) of 14 C-triclosan in soil-plant systems was approximately 400-fold smaller than that in the hydroponics. In the soil-planting system, a strong linear correlation was found between concentrations of triclosan in soil pore water and youdonger plant (R 2  > 0.85, p < 0.01) at different incubation times. Therefore, triclosan in pore water might be a good indicator to estimate its accumulation in plants and is significantly affected by soil pH, clay, and organic matter contents. The estimated average dietary intakes of triclosan for youdonger grown in hydroponic and soil-planting systems were estimated to be 1.31 ng day -1  kg -1 and 0.05-0.12 ng day -1  kg -1 , respectively, much lower than the acceptable dietary intakes of triclosan (83 μg day -1  kg -1 ), indicating no significant human health risks from youdonger consumption. This study provided insights into uptake routes of triclosan into youdonger plants from both soil and hydroponic systems, bioavailability of triclosan in different soils, and further assessment of human exposure to triclosan from youdonger., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Bisphenol analogues (BPs), triclocarban (TCC), and triclosan (TCS) are well-known environmental endocrine disrupters. Many studies have characterized their occurrence in the freshwater environment. However, their environmental behaviors in the coastal marine environment remain poorly understood. Here, matched seawater and sediment samples were collected from East China Sea, and analyzed for 13 BPs (including halogenated derivatives of bisphenol A), TCC, and TCS. Bisphenol A (BPA; mean 23 ng/L) was the predominant BP in seawaters, followed by tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA; 2.3 ng/L) and bisphenol S (BPS; 2.2 ng/L). Seawater concentrations of TCS (oc ) ranged from 2.3 (TBBPA) to 4.0 (TCC). The log K oc values of BPA, BPS, and BPAF were lower than those previously reported in the freshwater environment. Overall, this study provides first data on the spatial distribution patterns and partitioning behaviors of BPs, TCC, and TCS in marine environment., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Triclosan (TCS), an emergent pollutant, is raising a global concern due to its toxic effects on organisms and aquatic ecosystems. The non-availability of proven treatment technologies for TCS remediation is the central issue stressing thorough research on understanding the underlying mechanisms of toxicity and assessing vital biomarkers in the aquatic organism for practical monitoring purposes. Given the unprecedented circumstances during COVID 19 pandemic, a several-fold higher discharge of TCS in the aquatic ecosystems cannot be considered a remote possibility. Therefore, identifying potential biomarkers for assessing chronic effects of TCS are prerequisites for addressing the issues related to its ecological impact and its monitoring in the future. It is the first holistic review on highlighting the biomarkers of TCS toxicity based on a comprehensive review of available literature about the biomarkers related to cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, hematological, alterations of gene expression, and metabolic profiling. This review establishes that biomarkers at the subcellular level such as oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, neurotoxicity, and metabolic enzymes can be used to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of TCS in future investigations. Micronuclei frequency and % DNA damage proved to be reliable biomarkers for genotoxic effects of TCS in fishes and other aquatic organisms. Alteration of gene expression and metabolic profiling in different organs provides a better insight into mechanisms underlying the biocide's toxicity. In the concluding part of the review, the present status of knowledge about mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance of TCS and its relevance in understanding the toxicity is also discussed referring to the relevant reports on microorganisms., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Triclosan (TCS) is widely applied in personal care products (PCPs) as an antimicrobial preservative. Due to its toxicity and potential risk to human health, TCS has attracted mounting concerns in recent years. However, biomonitoring of TCS in large human populations remains limited in China. In this study, 1163 adults in South China were recruited and urinary TCS concentrations were determined. TCS was detected in 99.5% of urine samples, indicating broad exposure in the study population. Urinary concentrations of TCS ranged from below the limit of detection (LOD) to 270 μg/L, with a median value of 3.67 μg/L. Urinary TCS concentrations from individuals were all lower than the Biomonitoring Equivalents reference dose, suggesting relatively low health risk in the participants. TCS concentrations did not differ significantly between sexes or education levels (p > 0.05). Nevertheless, marital status and age were found to be positively influence TCS levels (p < 0.001). After adjustment for body mass index (BMI), age was determined to be positively associated with TCS concentrations (p < 0.05), particularly in the age group from 31 to 51 years old. This study provides a baseline of urinary TCS exposure in South China general adult populations., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Little is known about the trophic transfer of nanoparticles and personal care products via dietary exposure in an algae-algae eating fish food chain. The bioaccumulation of nano-TiO 2 (P25 - nTiO 2 ), nano-ZnO (nZnO), and triclosan (TCS) in eight different combinations were explored in this study through algae, Asterococcus superbus, to fish, Gyrinocheilus aymonieri. Results found the bioaccumulation of TCS changed with algal biomass, while the bioaccumulation of Ti and Zn varied with the amount of lipids and proteins in algal cells. In algae, Ti was in the form of nTiO 2 and Zn in the form of zinc ion. Due to dietary exposure, Ti and Zn quantity in fish was closely related to that in algae. The quantity of Ti and Zn in algae and fish exposed to the interaction of nTiO 2 * nZnO* TCS was higher than that in other treatments. The uptake of Ti and Zn in algae exposed to the interaction of nTiO 2 * nZnO had been inhibited, and the corresponding fish also had less Ti and Zn in their tissues. nTiO 2 -containing treatments had higher Ti proportion in muscle than gill in fish. Treatment nZnO had the most Zn in gill, whereas nZnO * TCS-containing treatments had higher Zn proportion in gut than other tissues. No observation of TCS in fish in all treatments suggested the removal and metabolism of TCS might be induced by tissue recovery and acclimation. This is the first report on trophic transfer of mixed nanoparticles and personal care product in an algae-algae eating fish two-stage food chain., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The Mediterranean is a region of substantial agriculture production that faces concurrent environmental stresses and freshwater pollution given the occurrence of emerging contaminants (ECs). Among these pollutants, the surface-active substances have been suggested to enhance the bioavailability of other ECs. This research evaluates a comparative uptake and translocation assessment of irrigation exposure to atenolol (ATN, 60 µg/L), carbamazepine (CBZ, 60 µg/L) and triclosan (TCS, 30 µg/L) alone vs. these combined with perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS, 10 µg/L) under semifield (i.e., soil experimental set) vs. hydroponics (i.e., soilless experimental set) growing conditions with lettuce, radish and tomato plants. Both experimental sets revealed efficient root uptake and translocation for the three ECs regardless of their co-existence with PFOS. The overall results of the uptake and translocation of the ECs in the lettuce and tomato plants suggested a simultaneous treatment-plant organ interaction, which was not affected by PFOS being present in both experimental sets. PFOS in irrigation water did not increase cellular perviousness to the other three ECs. These observations support the hypothesis of factors other than PFOS being responsible for the differential bioaccumulation and translocation potentials seen in both experimental sets. However, the radish plants co-irrigated with PFOS brought about increased movement of ECs from roots to aerial parts, more specifically ATN and CBZ in the soil experimental set, and ATN and TCS in the soilless set. These results support the notion that factors inherent to the physiological characteristics of this root vegetable contributed to ECs' increased tendency to move from roots to aerial parts. Despite the three ECs efficiently accumulating, the risk to humans from eating the edible parts of these plants grown under soil or soilless conditions was low., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Triclosan (TCS) is an emerging contaminant that threatens the environment and human health. This study was conducted to investigate TCS abatement by a novel electro-oxidation (EO) process, which used a Ti-based nickel and antimony doped tin oxide (NATO/Ti) anode and a carbon nanotubes (CNTs) doped carbon/PTFE (CNTs-C/PTFE) gas diffusion electrode (GDE) for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). A comparative study was also performed for TCS degradation by using a traditional EO with a nickel foam cathode, termed as HER-EO. The optimal initial TCS concentration, current density and solution pH for TCS degradation during the ORR-EO and HER-EO were investigated. Results showed that ORR-EO removed more than 98% of TCS in 10-60 min under the concentration of 5-50 mg/L. The TCS degradation followed pseudo-first-order kinetics and its main intermediates were observed during the ORR-EO and HER-EO using liquid chromatography combined mass (LC-MS). The results of FED analysis and toxicity prediction by ECOSAR software showed that less intermediates accumulated during the ORR-EO and the residues were less harmful. The ORR-EO degradation mechanism for TCS was attacking on the ether bond and the benzene ring by • OH. This novel ORR-EO process exhibits a great merit in the field of emerging contaminants abatement., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Few data exist on bisphenol A (BPA) or triclosan (TCS) residue levels in foods consumed by adults in everyday settings. In a further analysis of study data, the objectives were to determine BPA and TCS residue concentrations in duplicate-single solid food items consumed by adults and to estimate dietary exposure and intake doses per food item. A convenience sample of 50 adults was recruited in North Carolina (2009-2011). Participants completed 24 h food diaries and collected 24 h duplicate-diet solid food samples consumed on days 1 and 2 during sampling weeks 1, 2, and 6. A total of 188 of the collected 776 duplicate-diet solid food samples contained a single, solid food item. BPA and TCS residue levels were quantified in the 188 food items using GC-MS. BPA and TCS were detected in 37% and 58% of these food items, respectively. BPA concentrations were highest in a cheese and tomato sandwich (104 ng/g), whereas the highest TCS concentrations were in a burrito (22.1 ng/g). These chemicals co-occurred in 20% of the samples (maximum = 54.7 ng/g). Maximum dietary intake doses were 429 ng/kg/day for BPA in a vegetable soup with tortilla sample and 72.0 ng/kg/day for TCS in a burrito sample.

The uptake, bioconcentration and translocation of 22 endocrine disrupting compounds (six perflurocarboxylic acids (PFAAs), perfluorooctanoic sulfonic acid, four anionic surfactants (alkylsulfates (ASC) from C12 to C16), bisphenol A (BPA), four preservatives (parabens), two biocides (triclosan (TCS) and triclocarban (TCB)) and five UV-filters (benzophenones)) in radish (Raphanus sativus) has been investigated. Radishes were grown in sewage sludge-amended soil under controlled conditions in a grown chamber. Degradation in soil adhered to root was higher than in soil and varied significantly from a family to another. The most recalcitrant compounds were PFCs, anionic surfactants and TCB. Perfluorinated compounds and AS-C12 were detected in all plant tissues and were the compounds with the highest bioconcentration factors (BCF). A decrease of BCF was observed for ASCs with the increase of the alkyl chain. Non-ionic compounds, except TCB, were mainly accumulated in bulb. Phenolic compounds were detected at lower concentration levels than non-phenolic compounds probably due to metabolisation in radish cells. The highest BCF in edible bulb were obtained for PFOS (BCF: 1.668), perfluorooctanoic acid (BCF: 0.534) and AS-C12 (BCF: 0.523). This study reports for the first-time multiresidue plant uptake and translocation of pollutants from different chemical classes (perfluorinated compounds, surfactants, plasticiser, preservatives, biocides and UV-filters) and with a wide variety of physical-chemical properties., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationship that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Antimicrobial compounds are used in a broad range of personal care, consumer and healthcare products and are frequently encountered in modern life. The use of these compounds is being reexamined as their safety, effectiveness and necessity are increasingly being questioned by regulators and consumers alike. Wastewater often contains significant amounts of these chemicals, much of which ends up being released into the environment as existing wastewater and sludge treatment processes are simply not designed to treat many of these contaminants. Furthermore, many biotic and abiotic processes during wastewater treatment can generate significant quantities of potentially toxic and persistent antimicrobial metabolites and byproducts, many of which may be even more concerning than their parent antimicrobials. This review article explores the occurrence and fate of two of the most common legacy antimicrobials, triclosan and triclocarban, their metabolites/byproducts during wastewater and sludge treatment and their potential impacts on the environment. This article also explores the fate and transformation of emerging alternative antimicrobials and addresses some of the growing concerns regarding these compounds. This is becoming increasingly important as consumers and regulators alike shift away from legacy antimicrobials to alternative chemicals which may have similar environmental and human health concerns.

Triclosan (TCS) and Triclocarbon (TCC) are chlorinated synthetic antimicrobial agents formaternal urinelated in quantities of consumer products. However, the biomonitoring of direct exposure reflection for fetuses are rare. In this study, we determine the concentrations of TCS and TCC in paired maternal serum, cord serum, maternal urine, and amniotic fluid samples collected from a cohort of 95 expecting mother-fetal pairs in Southern China. TCS and TCC are detected widely (detection rates: >76.9%) in maternal serum, cord serum, maternal urine, and amniotic fluid samples. TCS is found to be the predominant antimicrobial agent with median concentrations in maternal serum (1.5 ng/mL) and cord serum (1.8 ng/mL) that are one order of magnitude higher than those of tcc in maternal serum (0.085 ng/mL) and cord serum (0.052 ng/mL), respectively. Cord serum concentrations of tcs and tcc correlated well with the concentrations in maternal serum, which reflect the mothers' contribution to fetal exposure. The higher median ratio of cord serum/maternal serum TCS (0.95) compared to that of cord serum/maternal serum TCC (0.53) indicates high placental transmission ability of TCS. Moreover, the facility to penetrate the placental barrier and hard to depurate characteristics lead to the long residence of TCS in the fetal environment, causing great concern over the prenatal exposure risks during the critical window of fetal development. This study provides a novel contribution by increasing existing knowledge on the exposure assessment of TCS and TCC during pregnancy through the exploration of matched maternal-fetal samples., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Contamination by endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) concerns the security and sustainability of a drinking water supply system and human exposure via water consumption. This study analyzed the selected EDCs in source (river water, n = 10) and supply (tap water, n = 155) points and the associated risks. A total of 14 multiclass EDCs was detected in the drinking water supply system in Malaysia. Triclosan (an antimicrobial agent) and 4-octylphenol (a plasticizer) were only detected in the tap water (up to 9.74 and 0.44 ng/L, respectively). Meanwhile, chloramphenicol and 4-nonylphenol in the system were below the method detection limits. Bisphenol A was observed to be highest in tap water at 66.40 ng/L (detection: 100%; median concentration: 0.28 ng/L). There was a significant difference in triclosan contamination between the river and tap water (p < 0.001). Overall, the life groups were estimated at no possible risk of EDCs (risk quotient < 1). Nonetheless, the results concern the transport and impact of EDCs on the drinking water supply system regarding treatment sustainability and water security. Further exploration of smart monitoring and management using Big Data and Internet of Things and the need to invent rapid, robust, sensitive, and efficient sensors is warranted.

Triclosan (TCS), an extensively used broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent, has raised significant environmental concerns regarding its widespread occurrence in waters. In this study, the removal of TCS in aqueous solution via peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activated by an extremely low-level Co 2+ (0.02 μM) was systematically investigated. During preliminary test, TCS (10 μM) was totally degraded in 30 min by using 0.1 μM Co 2+ and 40 μM PMS at pH 7.0 with a degradation rate constant of 0.1219 min -1 . A first-order apparent degradation rate of TCS was found with respect to the PMS concentrations. At extremely low dosage of Co 2+ (0.02 μM), the presence of NO 3 - , HCO 3 - , PLFA, and SRHA within test concentrations significantly inhibited TCS removal, while a dual effect of Cl - on the degradation rate of TCS was observed. The quenching experiments verified that SO 4 - was the dominant reactive oxygen species (ROS) rather than OH. Six major intermediates were identified using TOF-LC-MS, based on which we proposed three associated reaction pathways including hydroxylation, ether bond breakage, and dechlorination. Toxicity predictions by ECOSAR software exhibited aquatic toxicity reduction of TCS after Co 2+ /PMS treatment. We outlook these findings to advance the feasibility of organic contaminants removal via Co 2+ /PMS system with Co 2+ at extremely low levels., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Chemical pollution in the plastic debris is an increasing global concern as most pollutants might transfer from the environment to living organisms via plastic debris. In this study, biocides in the plastic debris floating on the surface water of the Pearl River system were investigated. The abundances of large plastic debris and microplastics in the surface water were 0.07 ± 0.13 and 0.94 ± 1.87 items/m 3 , respectively. Totally, 15 and 16 out of 19 biocides were detected in the large plastic debris and microplastics, with the concentration of each biocide in the ranges of 22.6-2460 ng/g and 16.9-2890 ng/g, respectively. Meanwhile, the concentration ranges of the detected biocides were 0.01-215 ng/L in surface water. Triclosan, triclocarban, methylparaben, and N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET) were the frequently detected compounds in the plastic samples and surface water. The partition coefficients (K d ) of biocides between the plastic debris and surface water showed a weak positive correlation with K ow values. Biocides were also detected on the natural floats (tree leaves and branches) at concentrations of 13.7-786 ng/g. The annual mass load of biocides in plastic debris at each site was up to 265 g/y, thereby suggesting that plastic debris might be an important carrier for the emerging contaminants, such as biocides., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The high toxicity of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) has promoted the development of effective techniques for their separation and detection in various types of matrices. In this work, we developed a method for the rapid, reliable determination of 24 EDCs from six different families of organic compounds (viz. alkylphenols, phenylphenols, bisphenol A, parabens, organophosphorus pesticides and triclosan) in cereal-based foodstuffs. The target compounds were subjected to ultrasound-assisted extraction with methanol, cleaned up and preconcentrated by automated solid-phase extraction, and derivatized for their determination by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The method features low limits of detection (0.4-23 ng/kg), good precision (3.8-7.2%) and recoveries from 82% to 105%. The proposed method was used to analyse 12 samples of products purchased in Andalusia (Spain). A total of 14 analytes were detected in most of the samples. In any case, their concentrations (3.8-620 ng/kg) were all lower than the applicable maximum residue limits.

Water scarcity is a natural condition in the Mediterranean rim countries. In this region, reuse of reclaimed water (RW) from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is becoming a potential source for highly water-demanding activities such as agriculture. However, the removal capacity of contaminants in regular WWTPs has been found to be limited. Considering a Mediterranean scenario, this research investigated the plant uptake and translocation of three representative pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) typically present in RW samples from a WWTP located in an urban area in Spain, and assessed the potential risk to humans from plant consumption. The RW samples were collected and analyzed for three representative PPCPs (atenolol -ATN-, carbamazepine -CBZ- and triclosan -TCS-). The target contaminants were also spiked at two levels in the RW samples to consider two worst-case scenarios. Three plant models (lettuce, maize and radish) were grown outdoors and irrigated with four treatments: tap water; RW samples, and the two spiked RW samples. Generally speaking, results revealed an efficient root uptake for the three PPCPs regardless of plant species and fortification level, and suggested an interaction effect of treatment and plant organ. Different bioaccumulation and translocation potentials of the three PPCPs were seen into the aerial organs of the plants. Overall, these observations support the idea that factors including the physico-chemical properties of the PPCPs and physiological plant variables, could be responsible for the differential accumulation and translocation potentials observed. These variables could be critical for crops irrigated with RW in regions with extended dry seasons, high solar incidence and low annual rainfall such as those in the Mediterranean rim where plants are subjected to high transpiration rates. However, the results obtained from this experimental approach suggested a negligible risk to humans from consumption of edible plants irrigated with RW samples with presence of PPCPs, despite the fact that the three representative PPCPs under study accumulated efficiently in the plants., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare they have no conflict of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Reclaimed wastewater (RW) is increasingly used to irrigate agricultural land and to alleviate agricultural water shortages worldwide. This usage has resulted in concerns about soil contamination by pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) and the human health risks associated with dietary crop intake. In this study, we systematically analysed the occurrence and accumulation of 11 PPCPs and one active metabolite in soils and various crops (cucumber, eggplant, long bean and wheat) from realistic RW irrigation fields with different irrigation histories (20, 30 and 40 years) in Beijing and evaluated the human health risks associated with the consumption of these crops. The 11 PPCPs and one active metabolite were detected at concentrations ranging from 0.67 to 22.92 ng L -1 in RW, 0.029-28.13 μg kg -1 in irrigated soil, and <0.01-28.01 μg kg -1 in crops. The concentrations of N4-acetyl-sulfamethoxazole and triclosan were higher than those of other PPCPs, with respective concentrations of 14.39-31.44 ng L -1 and 15.93-26.23 ng L -1 in RW, 10.92-23.29 μg kg -1 and 20.22-28.13 μg kg -1 in irrigated soil and 17.92-28.01 μg kg -1 and 8.92-14.91 μg kg -1 in crops. However, the estimated threshold of toxicological concern (TTC) and hazard quotient (HQ) values revealed that the concentrations of N4-acetyl-sulfamethoxazole and triclosan in crops irrigated with RW should be considered a de minimis risk to human health. The concentrations of 11 PPCPs and one active metabolite in soils and crops and the calculated fruit bioconcentration factors (BCFs) did not display obvious increases associated with the duration of RW irrigation in real agricultural systems (P > 0.05). The concentrations of the studied PPCPs in the RW used for irrigation followed different patterns from the concentrations detected in the irrigated soils and crops. Although the concentrations of sulfamethoxazole, sulfisoxazole, sulfamethazine and trimethoprim in RW were higher than those of many other studied PPCPs, their respective values in the irrigated soils and crops did not display a similar tendency. The uptake and accumulation of PPCPs varied among the crop species (P < 0.05). Although PPCPs were detected in eggplant, long bean and wheat (BCFs: not applicable-1.67, 0.03-1.35 and 0.01-5.01, respectively), PPCPs accumulated at increased levels in cucumber (BCFs 0.03-18.98). The estimated TTC and HQ values showed that the consumption of crops irrigated long-term with RW presents a de minimis risk to human health. However, further studies with more PPCPs and additional crop species need to be conducted, the synergistic effects of chemical mixtures of multiple PPCPs and the toxic effects of PPCP metabolites should be elucidated to obtain more reliable information on the safety of wastewater reuse for irrigation., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Treatment of emerging contaminants, such as antimicrobials, has become a priority topic for environmental protection. As a persistent, toxic, and bioaccumulative antimicrobial, the accumulation of triclosan (TCS) in wastewater sludge is creating a potential risk to human and ecosystem health via the agricultural use of biosolids. The impact of microwave (MW) pretreatment on TCS levels in municipal sludge is unknown. This study, for the first time, evaluated how MW pretreatment (80 and 160 °C) itself and together with anaerobic digestion (AD) under various sludge retention times (SRTs: 20, 12, and 6 days) and temperatures (35 and 55 °C) can affect the levels of TCS in municipal sludge. TCS and its potential transformation products were analyzed with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. Significantly higher TCS concentrations were detected in sludge sampled from the plant in colder compared to those in warmer temperatures. MW temperature did not have a discernible impact on TCS reduction from undigested sludge. However, AD studies indicated that compared to controls (no pretreatment), MW irradiation could make TCS more amenable to biodegradation (up to 46%), especially at the elevated pretreatment and digester temperatures. At different SRTs studied, TCS levels in the thermophilic digesters were considerably lower than that of in the mesophilic digesters., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

Triclosan, which is a bacteriostatic used in household items, has raised health concerns, because it might lead to antimicrobial resistance and endocrine disorders in organisms. The detection, identification, and monitoring of triclosan and its by-products (methyl triclosan, 2,4-Dichlorophenol and 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol) are a growing need in order to update current water treatments and enable the continuous supervision of the contamination plume. This work presents a customized electronic tongue prototype coupled to an electrochemical flow reactor, which aims to access the monitoring of triclosan and its derivative by-products in a real secondary effluent. An electronic tongue device, based on impedance measurements and polyethylenimine/poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) layer-by-layer and TiO 2 , ZnO and TiO 2 /ZnO sputtering thin films, was developed and tested to track analyte degradation and allow for analyte detection and semi-quantification. A degradation pathway trend was observable by means of principal component analysis, being the sample separation, according to sampling time, explained by 77% the total variance in the first two components. A semi-quantitative electronic tongue was attained for triclosan and methyl-triclosan. For 2,4-Dichlorophenol and 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol, the best results were achieved with only a single sensor. Finally, working as multi-analyte quantification devices, the electronic tongues could provide information regarding the degradation kinetic and concentrations ranges in a dynamic removal treatment., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

This review aims to gather and summarize information about the occurrence of emerging contaminants and antibiotic resistance genes in environmental matrices in Latin America. We aim to contribute to future research by compiling a list of priority pollutants adjusted to the needs and characteristics of Latin America, according to the data presented in this study. In order to perform a comprehensive research and secure a representative and unbiased amount of quality data concerning emerging contaminants in Latin America, the research was performed within the Scopus® database in a time frame from 2000 to July 2019. The countries with higher numbers of published articles were Brazil and México, while most studies were performed in the surroundings of Mexico City and in Southern and Southeastern Brazil. The main investigated environmental matrices were drinking water and surface water. The presence of antibiotic resistance was frequently reported, mainly in Brazil. Monitoring efforts should be performed in other countries in Latin America, as well as in other regions of Brazil and México. The suggested priority list for monitoring of emerging contaminants in Latin America covers: di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), bisphenol-A (BP-A), 4-nonylphenol (4-NP), triclosan (TCS), estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), ethinylestradiol (EE2), tetracycline (TC), amoxicillin (AMOX), norfloxacin (NOR), ampicillin (AMP) and imipenem (IMP). We hope this list serves as a basis for the orientation of the future research and monitoring projects to better understand the distribution and concentration of the listed emerging substances., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Due to the abundant binding sites and high stability, a synthesized meso-MIL-53(Al) was selected as the backbone and used for immobilizing laccase (Lac-MIL-53(Al)) to catalytically degrade of TCS. XRD, BET and FTIR analyses proved that the carboxyl groups on PTA of meso-MIL-53(Al) could provide sufficient adsorption sites for physically immobilizing laccase through hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions. Although the catalytic efficiency of V max /K m slightly decreased from 785 to 607 min -1 due to the mass transfer limitation upon immobilized, Lac-MIL-53(Al) showed high activity recovery (93.8%) and stability. The conformational analysis indicated the laccase could partially enter into the MOF by conformational changes without impairing laccase, although the laccase molecular (6.5 nm × 5.5 nm × 4.5 nm) was larger than the mesopore sizes of the MOF (4 nm). The kinetics indicated that Lac-MIL-53(Al) could remove 99.24% of TCS within 120 min due to the synergy effect of the adsorption of meso-MIL-53(Al) and catalytic degradation of laccase. Meanwhile, Lac-MIL-53(Al) could remain approximately 60% of activity for up to 8 times reuse without desorption. The GC/MS and LC/MS/MS analyses further confirmed that TCS could be transformed to 2, 4-DCP by laccase via the breakage of the ether bond, or to passivated dimers, trimers and tetramers by the self-coupling and oxidization of the phenoxyl radicals, and finally removed by precipitation. In summary, enzyme-MOF composite might be a potential strategy to control the micropollutants in the wastewater., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Synthetic antimicrobials known as parabens, triclosan (TCS), and triclocarban (TCC) are emerging environmental contaminants. Limited studies on these contaminants have been conducted in coastal environments. In our study, parabens, their metabolites, TCS, and TCC were measured in sediment collected along the Korean coast, to investigate contamination status, spatial distribution, and potential health risks to coastal environments. Methyl paraben and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid were detected in all sediment samples, suggesting widespread contamination. Total concentrations of parent parabens, their metabolites, TCS, and TCC ranged from 0.19 to 11.2 (mean: 2.40) ng/g dry weight, 9.65 to 480 (mean: 120) ng/g dry weight, and < limit of quantification (LOQ)-6.10 (mean: 0.41) ng/g dry weight, and from < LOQ-41.0 (mean: 2.78) ng/g dry weight, respectively. The overall contamination of parabens and antimicrobials in sediment was different from that reported for persistent organic pollutants due to different contamination sources among chemical groups. Significant correlation was found among target contaminants in sediment, suggesting the existence of a common source. Total organic carbon (TOC) was significantly correlated with the concentrations of target contaminants, implying a major factor for coastal distribution of parabens and antimicrobials. The concentrations of parabens and TCS measured in sediment did not exceed a hazard quotient (HQ), implying low potential health risks associated with exposure to these contaminants. This is the first study to report the nationwide distribution of parabens, their metabolites, and antimicrobials in the coastal environments of Korea., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The process of embalming human remains as part of the funeral home industry, entails replacing blood with embalming fluid. Typically the unused/excess fluids are disposed of directly to the sewershed or septic system. The presence of select contaminants in sewer discharges from 8 funeral homes (facilities) in York Region, Ontario during active embalming processes was studied. A wide range of contaminants including embalming fluids (formaldehyde and triclosan); metals, conventional parameters, persistent organic pollutants (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, pesticides, and polychlorinated byphenyls), nonyl phenols and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) were measured in the final embalming effluent and compared to regulatory sewer limits where available. Two main constituents of embalming fluids-formaldehyde and triclosan-were detected at maximum concentrations of 561,000 μg/L and 505 μg/L respectively. Other persistent organic pollutants detected in embalming effluent included banned pesticides lindane (83 ng/L) and metabolites of DDT (DDE; 2,300 ng/L). Elevated APIs found in over-the-counter drugs and products were also frequently detected at elevated concentrations (oxybenzone, hydrocortisone, lidocaine, naproxen, ibuprofen, ciprofloxacin and DEET). Most contaminants did not exceed regulatory sewer limits where available, however others including biochemical oxygen demand (cBOD 5 ) and conventional parameters were consistently above regulatory limits. Large amounts of formaldehyde and triclosan may pose a risk to receiving sewersheds and receiving sewage treatment plants due to their antimicrobial activities., (Crown Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Triclosan (TCS, 5-chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy) phenol) is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial compound. Owing to its wide use, TCS has been frequently detected in river systems, especially in the (sub-)tropics. However, little information on its interaction with river biofilm in the (sub)tropics is currently available. In the present study, subtropical river biofilms were chronically exposed to TCS for 14 d at concentrations of 0.1-100 μg/L in artificial river water, which was followed by a 7 d recovery period. The results show that 100 μg/L TCS inhibited the growth of river biofilms and the no-observed-effect concentration (NOEC) of TCS on river biofilms was 10 μg/L. The affected biofilms did not completely recover within the 7 d of recovery period due to the adsorbed TCS which was not removed together with dissolved TCS. Exposure to TCS caused significant changes in prokaryotic species composition of river biofilms but no significant effects on eukaryotic species composition. In particular, the relative abundance of several TCS-tolerant bacterial species (e.g., Pseudoxanthomonas mexicana, Sphingopyxis alaskensis and Sphingomonas wittichii) in river biofilms increased following exposure to 10 and 100 μg/L TCS. River biofilm efficiently removed TCS from the liquid phase and the pH values of the aquatic system significantly affected the removal efficiency of TCS (from 36% at pH 6.5 to 60% at pH 8.5). No degradation products were detected in the liquid phase after 5 days of exposure, possibly due to strong adsorption of the hydrophobic degradation products to river biofilms and through biodegradation by bacteria utilizing TCS and its degradation products as source of carbon and energy for growth, such as Methyloversalitis universalis and Methylobacterium aquaticum., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This work aimed to determine the concentrations of parabens and triclosan (TCS) in shellfish from coastal waters of Shenzhen, South China. A method of isotope dilution with high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) was used to determine TCS and five paraben analogues, including methyl paraben (MeP), ethyl paraben (EtP), propyl paraben (PrP), butyl paraben (BuP), and benzyl paraben (BeP), in 186 shellfish samples covering eight species. Concentrations of parabens and TCS were 0.13-25.5 ng/g wet weight (ww) and 7  ng/kg bw/day) and TCS (200 ng/kg bw/day), indicating no significant human health risks from shellfish consumption in the studied region. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the occurrences of parabens and TCS in shellfish products from Shenzhen coastal waters., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Humans could be exposed to ingredients in personal care products (PCPs) via ingestion of water originated from contaminated water source, yet little attention has been focused on the distribution of benzophenones, parabens and triclosan in the Yangtze River water from China so far. Benzophenones, parabens and triclosan were analyzed in the water samples from 20 various sites in the middle reach of the Yangtze River, China from March to July, and September during 2015. Among the targeted compounds, p-hydroxybenzoic acid (PHBA, a paraben metabolite) was found with the highest concentration (median: 510 ng/L), followed by benzophenone-1 (2.79 ng/L), methylparaben (MeP, median 2.72 ng/L) and triclosan (median: 1.85 ng/L). Significant differences were observed in seasonal variations for most observed compounds. Parabens and benzophenones showed higher concentrations in spring while triclosan and PHBA showed higher concentration in summer. Spatial variations of benzophenone-1 were observed among 20 sampling sites, whereas other benzophenones, parabens and triclosan distributed evenly comparatively. Human exposure assessment showed higher estimated daily intake of the detected compounds for infants and toddlers from water than adults, implicating that infants may experience a higher exposed risk than adults. This study provides evidence that parabens, benzophenones and triclosan commonly occurred in the Yangtze River., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)