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Semi-volatile organic contaminants (SVOCs) are known for their tendency to evaporate from source regions and undergo atmospheric transport to distant areas. Cold condensation intensifies dry deposition, particle deposition, and scavenging by snow and rain, allowing SVOCs to move from the atmosphere into terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in alpine and polar regions. However, no standardized methods exist for the sampling, laboratory processing, and instrumental analysis of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in snow. The lack of reference methods makes these steps highly variable and prone to errors. This study critically reviews the existing literature to highlight the key challenges in the sampling phase, aiming to develop a reliable, consistent, and easily reproducible technique. The goal is to simplify this crucial step of the analysis, allowing data to be shared more effectively through standardized methods, minimizing errors. Additionally, an innovative method for laboratory processing is introduced, which uses activated carbon fibers (ACFs) as adsorbents, streamlining the analysis process. The extraction method is applied to analyze polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) and chlorinated pesticides (α-HCH, γ-HCH, p,p′-DDE, o,p′-DDT, HCB, and PeCB). The entire procedure, from sampling to instrumental analysis, is subsequently tested on snow samples collected on the Svalbard Islands. To validate the efficiency of the new extraction system, quality control measures based on the EPA methods 1668B and 1699 for aqueous methods are employed. This study presents a new, reliable method that covers both sampling and lab analysis, tailored for detecting POPs in snow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• POPS is a new surgical procedure that uses a prosthetic mesh for 1-stage treatment of multicompartmental POP. • POPS relapses show posterior vaginal wall recurrences associated with obstructed defaecation. • Multidisciplinary teams and highly specialized centres are recommended to treat patients with POPS relapse. • Ventral rectopexy with sacral colpopexy appears to be a promising treatment in this setting. To investigate pelvic organ prolapse (POP) after a novel abdominal prosthetic surgical technique – 'pelvic organ prolapse suspension' (POPS) – that has been proposed recently as an easily reproducible laparoscopic technique for the treatment of multicompartmental POP and rectal prolapse. This study also aimed to analyse treatment strategies of recurrent POP after POPS, reporting on anatomical, subjective and functional outcomes following recurrence surgery. Patients with a symptomatic prolapse relapse after POPS were collected and analysed prospectively at a single tertiary care institution. Each patient was offered a multidisciplinary clinical and radiological evaluation pre-operatively. Twenty-five women with a median age of 59 [interquartile range (IQR) 49–73] years were enrolled in the study. Of these, 88 % were menopausal. All patients had high-grade (Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification System stage > 2) recurrent posterior vaginal wall-predominant prolapse after POPS. Multicompartmental prolapse was found in 64 % of patients. All women complained of vaginal bulging associated with obstructed defaecation syndrome (ODS) symptoms. Surgical treatment consisted of laparoscopic ventral rectopexy (VR) in all 25 cases (100 %), and concomitant sacral colpopexy (SCP) with previous mesh removal in 16 cases (64 %). No anatomical recurrences were observed after median follow-up of 12 (IQR 3–18) months. Overall subjective improvement after surgery was high in all patients (Patient Global Improvement Index ≤ 2). Recurrent POP following POPS appears to predominantly involve the posterior vaginal wall, with associated ODS symptoms. A multidisciplinary approach is advisable for treatment of these patients. Minimally invasive VR alone or in combination with SCP seems to represent an effective treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aquaculture industry is growing rapidly and plays a huge role in bridging the global demand gap for fish and other aquatic foods. It is a vital contributor of valuable nutrients and economic benefits. Aquaculture and fisheries provide a means of livelihood to an estimated 58.5 million people globally, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation. However, the sector is impacted by the ubiquity of microplastics and toxic chemicals. Although many studies have reported plastic pollution in the aquaculture environment, less attention has been paid to the coexistence of toxic chemicals with plastic particles and the role of climate change in aquaculture food contamination. This review evaluates the occurrence of microplastics in organisms, feeds, water, and sediment in the aquaculture ecosystem and the detection and hazardous effects of toxic chemical contaminants. We also highlight novel insights into the role of climate change in plastic and chemical contamination of aquaculture organisms and ecosystems. We report that the extent of aquaculture's contribution to global climate change and global plastic pollution is yet to be adequately quantified and requires further investigation for appropriate risk assessment and prevention of food safety crisis. Possible mitigation strategies for the highlighted pollution problems were suggested, and some identified gaps for future research were indicated. Overall, this work is one of the first efforts to assess the influence of climate change on aquaculture food contamination, emphasising its effects on food safety and ecosystem health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A viable tactic to effectively address the climate crisis is the production of renewable fuels via photocatalytic reactions using solar energy and available resources like carbon dioxide (CO2) and water. Organic polymer material-based photocatalytic materials are thought to be one way to convert solar energy into valuable chemicals and other solar fuels. The use of porous organic polymers (POPs) for CO2 fixation and capture and sequestration to produce beneficial compounds to reduce global warming is still receiving a lot of interest. Visible light-responsive organic photopolymers that are functionally designed and include a large number of heteroatoms and an extended π-conjugation allow for the generation of photogenerated charge carriers, improved absorption of visible light, increased charge separation, and decreased charge recombination during photocatalysis. Due to their rigid structure, high surface area, flexible pore size, permanent porosity, and adaptability of the backbone for the intended purpose, POPs have drawn more and more attention. These qualities have been shown to be highly advantageous for numerous sustainable applications. POPs may be broadly categorized as crystalline or amorphous according to how much long-range order they possess. In terms of performance, conducting POPs outperform inorganic semiconductors and typical organic dyes. They are light-harvesting materials with remarkable optical characteristics, photostability, cheap cost, and low cytotoxicity. Through cocatalyst loading and morphological tweaking, this review presents optimization options for POPs preparation techniques. We provide an analysis of the ways in which the preparative techniques will affect the materials' physicochemical characteristics and, consequently, their catalytic activity. An inventory of experimental methods is provided for characterizing POPs' optical, morphological, electrochemical, and catalytic characteristics. The focus of this review is to thoroughly investigate the photochemistry of these polymeric organic photocatalysts with an emphasis on understanding the processes of internal charge generation and transport within POPs. The review covers several types of amorphous POP materials, including those based on conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs), inherent microporosity polymers, hyper-crosslinked polymers, and porous aromatic frameworks. Additionally, common synthetic approaches for these materials are briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harbors on all coasts regularly silt up, receiving sedimentary inputs that progressively reduce the water depths available for navigation. Consequently, they are routinely dredged to guarantee the depths necessary for navigation. Sediments act as a reservoir for anthropogenic contaminants such as heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that enter the aquatic system associated with particles or in solution. The objective of this study is to assess the state of pollution by POPs and heavy metals such as copper and zinc, used in large quantities in antifouling paints, in the sediments of the port of Oran. These were characterized by different methods: size, XRD, calcination, FTIR, NMR, GC–MS, and AAS, in order to determine their main characteristics and heavy metals and POPs content. The particle size is determined by laser particle size distribution. Thus, sediments from Oran port are composed of means and end sands, silt, and clay. The XRD analysis shows that the sediments consist mainly of silicates and calcite. The organic matter was determined by ignition loss at 450 and 550 °C; it is about 7%. Analysis by FTIR, 1H and 13C NMR, and GC–MS of POPs excerpts shows that the sediments are highly polluted by aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons (3372 mg/kg). Finally, metals were determined by AAS method. The results show significant pollution of Zn (313.5 mg/kg) and moderate pollution by Cu (75.6 mg/kg). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The aquaculture industry is growing rapidly and plays a huge role in bridging the global demand gap for fish and other aquatic foods. It is a vital contributor of valuable nutrients and economic benefits. Aquaculture and fisheries provide a means of livelihood to an estimated 58.5 million people globally, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation. However, the sector is impacted by the ubiquity of microplastics and toxic chemicals. Although many studies have reported plastic pollution in the aquaculture environment, less attention has been paid to the coexistence of toxic chemicals with plastic particles and the role of climate change in aquaculture food contamination. This review evaluates the occurrence of microplastics in organisms, feeds, water, and sediment in the aquaculture ecosystem and the detection and hazardous effects of toxic chemical contaminants. We also highlight novel insights into the role of climate change in plastic and chemical contamination of aquaculture organisms and ecosystems. We report that the extent of aquaculture’s contribution to global climate change and global plastic pollution is yet to be adequately quantified and requires further investigation for appropriate risk assessment and prevention of food safety crisis. Possible mitigation strategies for the highlighted pollution problems were suggested, and some identified gaps for future research were indicated. Overall, this work is one of the first efforts to assess the influence of climate change on aquaculture food contamination, emphasising its effects on food safety and ecosystem health. Graphical Abstract

Present study provides data of organochlorine pesticides (DDT, HCH) and polychlorinated biphenyls (28, 52, 155, 101, 118, 143, 153, 138, 180, 207 congener) content in six carp fish from Lake Khanka. Organochlorine compounds are found in all studied samples. HCHs isomers were dominant, constituting on average 70% of all pesticides detected. α-HCH content varied from 8 to 95%. Among DDTs, o,p’- and p,p’-DDE were predominant (on average 10–100 and 15–100%, respectively). PCBs content in all fish samples was primarily presented by low-chlorinated 28 and 52 congeners. Detected isomers evidence on the long-term pollution of Lake Khanka by persistent organic pollutants. Compare to southern China and Croatia, fish from Lake Khanka showed significantly higher levels of accumulation of HCH and lower levels of DDT and PCB. When comparing the data with the requirements of regulatory documents in Russia and China, no cases of exceeding maximum permissible concentrations were identified.

This paper presents the remediation of polluted soils with chlorinated pesticides (HCH, DDX) by zerovalent iron technology (ZVI). We performed soil remediation tests with iron (two grinding sizes), three doses, with iron and acetic acid (two doses for each dose of iron and for each type of grinding iron size). In the study was applied 99 tests (samples). The diminishing of HCH and DDX concentrations in treated samples is more significant with the increasing of iron and acetic acid doses, for the same contact time: 99% HCH and 91% DDX for large iron particles and 95% HCH and 82% DDX for small iron particles.

Abstract Background γ-Hexachlorocyclohexane (γ-HCH), an organochlorine insecticide of anthropogenic origin, is a persistent organic pollutant (POP) that causes environmental pollution concerns worldwide. Although many γ-HCH-degrading bacterial strains are available, inoculating them directly into γ-HCH-contaminated soil is ineffective because of the low survival rate of the exogenous bacteria. Another strategy for the bioremediation of γ-HCH involves the use of transgenic plants expressing bacterial enzyme for γ-HCH degradation through phytoremediation. Results We generated transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana expressing γ-HCH dehydrochlroninase LinA from bacterium Sphingobium japonicum strain UT26. Among the transgenic Arabidopsis T2 lines, we obtained one line (A5) that expressed and accumulated LinA well. The A5-derived T3 plants showed higher tolerance to γ-HCH than the non-transformant control plants, indicating that γ-HCH is toxic for Arabidopsis thaliana and that this effect is relieved by LinA expression. The crude extract of the A5 plants showed γ-HCH degradation activity, and metabolites of γ-HCH produced by the LinA reaction were detected in the assay solution, indicating that the A5 plants accumulated the active LinA protein. In some A5 lines, the whole plant absorbed and degraded more than 99% of γ-HCH (10 ppm) in the liquid medium within 36 h. Conclusion The transgenic Arabidopsis expressing active LinA absorbed and degraded γ-HCH in the liquid medium, indicating the high potential of LinA-expressing transgenic plants for the phytoremediation of environmental γ-HCH. This study marks a crucial step toward the practical use of transgenic plants for the phytoremediation of POPs.

Many persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are suspected endocrine disruptors and it is important to investigate their effects at low concentrations relevant to human exposure. Here, the OECD test guideline #456 steroidogenesis assay was downscaled to a 96-well microplate format to screen 24 POPs for their effects on viability, and testosterone and estradiol synthesis using the human adrenocortical cell line H295R. The compounds (six polyfluoroalkyl substances, five organochlorine pesticides, ten polychlorinated biphenyls and three polybrominated diphenyl ethers) were tested at human-relevant levels (1 nM to 10 µM). Increased estradiol synthesis, above the OECD guideline threshold of 1.5-fold solvent control, was shown after exposure to 10 µM PCB-156 (153%) and PCB-180 (196%). Interestingly, the base hormone synthesis varied depending on the cell batch. An alternative data analysis using a linear mixed-effects model that include multiple independent experiments and considers batch-dependent variation was therefore applied. This approach revealed small but statistically significant effects on estradiol or testosterone synthesis for 17 compounds. Increased testosterone levels were demonstrated even at 1 nM for PCB-74 (18%), PCB-99 (29%), PCB-118 (16%), PCB-138 (19%), PCB-180 (22%), and PBDE-153 (21%). The MTT assay revealed significant effects on cell viability after exposure to 1 nM of perfluoroundecanoic acid (12%), 3 nM PBDE-153 (9%), and 10 µM of PCB-156 (6%). This shows that some POPs can interfere with endocrine signaling at concentrations found in human blood, highlighting the need for further investigation into the toxicological mechanisms of POPs and their mixtures at low concentrations relevant to human exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigates the pollution characteristics of 16 priority PAHs, accumulated in copepods from a major fishing harbour and its adjacent coastal waters of Veraval, west coast of India. The total PAH accumulation is in the range of 922.16–27,807.49 ng g−1 dw, with the mean concentration of 5776.59 ng g−1 dw. High concentrations of PAHs were present in the copepod samples from inside the harbour. Notably, there was no significant correlation between the lipid content of copepods and the accumulation of PAHs. The molecular diagnostic ratio method (MDR) indicates that the PAH sources are petrogenic in origin, while principal component analysis (PCA) points to petroleum, coal combustion and vehicular emission sources. Total cancerous PAHs (C-PAHs) in the study area dominate by 40% of the total PAHs identified; moreover, the bioaccumulation factor (BAF) is very high in the offshore area, which is also a fishing ground. The global relevance and magnitude of the present study in the Veraval, one of the prime seafood exporting hubs in India, should be dealt with utmost avidity as the accumulation status of PAHs in the zooplankton has never been explored in the Indian coastal waters. Moreover, the current study gives the foremost data on the bioaccumulation status of PAHs in copepods from the tropical waters of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) affect human health through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) pathway and are implicated in mitochondrial dysfunction. Using data from the PIVUS study, we investigated the associations of serum AhR ligand (POP)-mediated luciferase activity (AhRL), mitochondrial ATP production inhibiting substances (MIS-ATP), and those affecting reactive oxygen species (MIS-ROS) with several metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cardiopulmonary function parameters. These include insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), inflammation, oxidative stress, and cardiopulmonary variables (FVC, FEV1, LV-EF, CCA distensibility). MIS-ATP showed significant correlations with HOMA-IR and pulmonary functions, indicating its direct impact of MIS-ATP on metabolic and pulmonary health. MIS-ROS correlated with oxidative stress markers and CCA distensibility, suggesting a role in systemic inflammatory responses. This study highlights the intricate relationships between environmental pollutant mixture and cardiopulmonary health in MetS as indicated by biomarkers of POP exposure in the elderly population, suggesting POP exposure may influence MetS onset and progression through mitochondrial dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water contamination with organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) is strongly linked to agricultural practices, and it still represents an environmental issue, despite the OCPs bans in many countries and despite the reported sustainable remediation technologies for their removal. Considering the environmental persistence of OCPs, the imbalances produced in the ecosystem, and the bioaccumulation tendency in living organisms through the food chain, the monitoring of OCPs and of their metabolites has crucial importance. The accuracy of the results obtained is strongly connected to the selection of reliable and accurate analytical procedures, especially considering the multitude of challenges related to OCP quantification. The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of the analytical techniques and protocols reported for OCP assessment in water, and to offer scientists a presentation of the current state of the literature on this subject. Nevertheless, it must be considered that each method has advantages and disadvantages, and, in most cases, the protocols reported in the literature must be adapted and improved. In addition, the levels of OCPs identified in surface water, groundwater, and rainwater have been reviewed. This review paper is directly connected to sustainability practices, since environmental sustainability is related to the responsibility to conserve natural resources and to prevent pollution, and for scientists, these objectives are fulfilled by conducting chemical analyses to track and quantify pollutants, as part of environmental studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: γ-Hexachlorocyclohexane (γ-HCH), an organochlorine insecticide of anthropogenic origin, is a persistent organic pollutant (POP) that causes environmental pollution concerns worldwide. Although many γ-HCH-degrading bacterial strains are available, inoculating them directly into γ-HCH-contaminated soil is ineffective because of the low survival rate of the exogenous bacteria. Another strategy for the bioremediation of γ-HCH involves the use of transgenic plants expressing bacterial enzyme for γ-HCH degradation through phytoremediation. Results: We generated transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana expressing γ-HCH dehydrochlroninase LinA from bacterium Sphingobium japonicum strain UT26. Among the transgenic Arabidopsis T2 lines, we obtained one line (A5) that expressed and accumulated LinA well. The A5-derived T3 plants showed higher tolerance to γ-HCH than the non-transformant control plants, indicating that γ-HCH is toxic for Arabidopsis thaliana and that this effect is relieved by LinA expression. The crude extract of the A5 plants showed γ-HCH degradation activity, and metabolites of γ-HCH produced by the LinA reaction were detected in the assay solution, indicating that the A5 plants accumulated the active LinA protein. In some A5 lines, the whole plant absorbed and degraded more than 99% of γ-HCH (10 ppm) in the liquid medium within 36 h. Conclusion: The transgenic Arabidopsis expressing active LinA absorbed and degraded γ-HCH in the liquid medium, indicating the high potential of LinA-expressing transgenic plants for the phytoremediation of environmental γ-HCH. This study marks a crucial step toward the practical use of transgenic plants for the phytoremediation of POPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review summarises our two decades of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) monitoring in different marine organisms along the eastern Adriatic Sea. The aim was to gain an insight into the trends of PCB distribution in order to evaluate the effectiveness of past and current legislation and suggest further action. Here we mainly focus on PCB levels in wild and farmed Mediterranean mussels, wild and farmed bluefin tuna, loggerhead sea turtles, common bottlenose dolphins, and small pelagic fish. The use of artificial intelligence and advanced statistics enabled an insight into the influence of various variables on the uptake of PCBs in the investigated organisms as well as into their mutual dependence. Our findings suggest that PCBs in small pelagic fish and mussels reflect global pollution and that high levels in dolphins and wild tuna tissues raise particular concern, as they confirm their biomagnification up the food chain. Therefore, the ongoing PCB monitoring should focus on predatory species in particular to help us better understand PCB contamination in marine ecosystems in our efforts to protect the environment and human health.

The Arctic Monitoring Assessment Program (AMAP) is tasked with monitoring and assessing the status of environmental contaminants in the Arctic, documenting levels and trends, and producing science-based assessments. The objectives of this paper are to present the current levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) across the Arctic, and to identify trends and knowledge gaps as detailed in the most recent AMAP Human Health Assessment Report. Many Arctic populations continue to have elevated levels of these contaminants, and the highest levels of POPs were observed in populations from Greenland, Faroe Islands, and Nunavik (Canada), as well as populations in the coastal Chukotka district (Russia) for legacy POPs only. Concentrations of most POPs are declining in Arctic populations in regions where time trends data exist, although the declines are not consistent across all regions. The exceptions are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, with concentrations of some long-chain PFAS such as perfluorononanoic acid increasing in populations in Nunavik, Greenland and Sweden. This paper provides a more extensive summary of levels of contaminants in adults, pregnant women, and children across the Arctic than previous AMAP human health assessments, particularly for levels of long-chain PFAS, which are currently under consideration for inclusion in the Stockholm Convention.

In this study, hazardous substances in 5 different brands of sanitary napkins being used in India have been analysed through gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (GCMS). Concentration of chemicals such as volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) (acetone, iso propyl alcohol, toluene), persistent organic pollutant (dioxins and furans), phthalates and total chlorine present in sanitary napkin have been reported. Furthermore, amounts of plastic present per sanitary napkin and total plastic waste generation potential have been calculated. Additionally, data analysis was done to understand the health impacts of these hazardous chemicals on users and the environment. It has been found that Indian sanitary pads have higher concentration of hazardous chemicals, as compared to similar product being sold in developed countries like — USA, Europe and Japan. The values of total chlorine observed in 5 different brands were found to be in the range of 170 to 460 ppm; dioxins varied from 0.244 to 21.419 pg/g; furans varied from 0.07 to 0.563 pg/g; acetone varied from 351 to 429 ppm; isopropyl alcohol varied from 125 to 184 ppm; toluene varied from 2.91 to 3.21 ppb; concentration of two phthalates, DBP and DEHP varied from 57.3 to 127.8 and from 146.2 to 188.5, respectively. Plastic pollution potential of this waste is approximately 33,210 tons/year. Daily exposure volume (DEV) of dioxins varied from 2.295 to 2.266 pg TEQ/g and furan from 0.0616 to 0.0738 pg TEQ/kg/day, compared to safe TDI value < 0.7 TEQ/kg/day. Dioxin's value is around 3 times higher than the accepted TDI value, whereas furan is within acceptable limit. Daily exposure doses (DED) of DBP were observed in-between 4.24 and 9.47 μg/kg-bw/day, whereas the DEHP value varied from 0.541 to 0.698 μg/kg-bw/day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food plants are the basis of human nutrition, but, in contaminated places, they can uptake contaminants. Environmental contamination and climate change can modify food quality; generally, they have a negative impact on and imply risks to human health. Heavy metals, like lead, arsenic, cadmium, and chromium, can be present at various environmental levels (soil, water, and atmosphere), and they are widely distributed in the world. Food plants can carry out heavy metal bioaccumulation, a defense pathway for plants, which is different for every plant species. Accumulation is frequent in the roots and the leaves, and heavy metals can be present in fruits and seeds; As and Cd are always present. In addition, other contaminants can bioaccumulate in food plants, including emerging contaminants, like persistent organic pollutants (POPs), pesticides, and microplastics. In food plants, these are present in the roots but also in the leaves and fruits, depending on their chemical structure. The literature published in recent years was examined to understand the distribution of contaminants among food plants. In the literature, old agronomical practices and new integrated technology to clean the water, control the soil, and monitor the crops have been proposed to mitigate contamination and produce high food quality and high food safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aerosol particles play a critical role in the tropical tropopause layer (TTL) through cloud formation and heterogeneous chemistry, influencing the radiative and chemical balance of the stratosphere. However, aerosol measurements in the TTL are sparse, resulting in poor knowledge of aerosol abundance and distribution in this important region. Here, we present in situ aircraft measurements over the western tropical Pacific, revealing a persistent and altitude‐dependent enhancement of aerosol mass in the TTL compared to the convectively influenced troposphere below. Notably, our data demonstrate a striking positive correlation between aerosol mass and ozone. Model simulations suggest that organic materials constitute a substantial fraction of the total aerosol mass within the TTL. We further derived an empirical parameterization of TTL aerosol mass as a function of ozone based on their linear relationship. This framework holds potential for estimating the TTL aerosol abundance but requires further validation and refinement through future measurements. Plain Language Summary: We investigated tiny particles called aerosols in a specific atmospheric layer called the tropical tropopause layer (TTL). These particles are crucial because they affect cloud formation and chemical processes in the atmosphere, influencing how energy is distributed. Unfortunately, there hasn't been much research on aerosols in the TTL, leading to gaps in our understanding of their abundance and distribution in this important region. To fill this knowledge gap, we conducted measurements using aircraft over the western tropical Pacific. Our findings revealed that aerosol mass in the TTL is consistently higher compared to the lower troposphere, which is influenced by upward air movement. What's interesting is that we observed a clear connection between the amount of aerosol and ozone. Our model simulations indicated that a significant portion of the aerosol mass in the TTL is made up of organic materials. To make it easier to estimate aerosol levels and their impact on climate, we developed a way to predict TTL aerosol mass based on ozone measurements. Since ozone is relatively straightforward to measure and model, our method could provide a useful framework for understanding aerosol abundance in the TTL and its effects on the climate. Key Points: Aircraft measurements reveal persistent enhancement of aerosol mass in the TTLThe TTL aerosol enhancement tightly correlates with ozone. An empirical parameterization of TTL aerosol as a function of ozone is derivedModeling suggests that TTL aerosol particles are mainly composed of organics and sulfate [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIn developing countries, stabilization ponds are the most common facilities wastewater treatment, where microbial consortia are the workhorse for removing organic contaminants. Fungi play an important role in the removal of organic matter. However, their efficiency in removing recalcitrant pollutants such as antibiotics and dyes still needs to be determined. The present work evaluates four fungal strains isolated from wastewater treatment lagoon systems (aerobic-anaerobic-anoxic) to remove persistent organic pollutants: Tilmicosin, Enrofloxacin, and Methylthionine chloride in Malt medium rich in carbon and in Mineral medium with only mineral nutrients. Fungi were isolated from sludge obtained from lagoons and identified based on their morphology. Removal assays were conducted in synthetic wastewater, with variations in operating conditions such as fungus type, temperature, and residence time. The quantification of contaminants was performed using UV-V spectrometry, and data on pH, conductivity, and spore concentration were obtained. The results were analyzed using R software, version 4.0.2. The results indicate that adsorption is the primary pathway in all cases. It was found that the greater the amount of fungal biomass produced during the test, the greater the absorption of the mode; that was the case with the Malt medium and dyes tests compared to Mineral medium and antibiotics tests. The studied fungi poorly removed antibiotics, around 20% in Malta medium and less than 10% in mineral medium, but are more capable of adsorbing Methylene blue, around 70% in Malta medium and less than 20% in the mineral medium. These results indicate natural fungi role in removing persistent organic pollutants (POPs). This shows that this type of plant needs the support of ternary treatments to eliminate POPs such as antibiotics. Limiting the discharge of this type of POPs is recommended as they could risk the biological remediation system’s health. Nevertheless, Fungal species from these lagoon systems can be used in dye removal processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was presented to obtain the first insight into the pollution profile, potential sources, and human health risks of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in indoor dusts taken from Istanbul and Kocaeli, Türkiye. ΣPAH concentrations in dusts from Istanbul varied between 73.64 ng/g d.w. (IST-3) and 434.3 ng/g d.w. (IST-2), whereas PAH concentrations changed between 4573 ng/g d.w. (KOC-2) and 12,311 ng/g d.w. (KOC-1) in Kocaeli which is at least 10.5 times higher than the measured PAH value in IST-2 which has the highest value in Istanbul. IST-1, IST-2, and IST-4 indoor dusts are weakly polluted in terms of PAH contamination, while the other two dusts (IST-3 and IST-5) in Istanbul are not polluted. In Kocaeli, however, they are heavily polluted because the ΣPAH concentrations in the dusts are much higher than 1000 ng/g. Pyrene, Fluoranthene, Phenanthrene, and Naphthalene were the dominant PAHs in all indoor dusts. The predominant OCPs found in all indoor dusts were DDE p,p, HCH alpha, and HCH beta, respectively. The source identification through diagnostic ratios demonstrated that PAHs arise from more than one source and they originated almost equally from petrogenic and pyrogenic sources due to the high traffic density from highways near the sampling points and the existence of many industrial activity areas. All HQ, HI, and TLCR values demonstrated that there is no risk of non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic hazards for children and adults in case of ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact with indoor dusts containing related POPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of a multidisciplinary study with the aim of assessing the potential combined risk from consuming locally harvested food products in the Euro-Arctic region of Norway, Finland, and Russia. The three important contaminant groups—radioactive substances, heavy metals, and persistent organic pollutants (POPs)—were measured in food samples such as berries, mushrooms, fish, birds, reindeer, and moose; they were sampled in 2013–2015. To assess the combined pollution levels and investigate the trends, similarities, and variations between different contaminant groups, subsequent multivariate statistical analysis was performed. The results showed that, in general, the levels of radioactive substances, toxic elements, and POPs were below the permitted EU maximum content in food products. However, statistical analysis revealed some correlations, similarities, and peculiarities between the accumulation of different contaminants in various species, which allowed for a better understanding of the mechanisms of accumulation and interaction between different contaminant groups. It also gave a better insight into the possible added risks and helped pinpoint species that could serve as reference markers for the accumulation of different contaminants in food. Mushrooms, fish, and reindeer were found to be important markers in the combined risk assessments for the contents of metals and radioactive substances. Further research, as well as the development of methodologies for combined assessments, are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worldwide, studies on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) especially focusing on fishing harbours have been found in a limited magnitude only. The characteristics of 16 PAHs and their associated ecological adversities in different environmental compartments of Veraval fishing harbour have been investigated. The concentrations of total PAHs in dissolved, particulate and sediment phases varied from 358.19–42,712 ng L−1, 1450.83–15,291.60 ng g−1 dw and 1263.53–217,560.30 ng g−1 dw, respectively. Two approaches adopted for the source apportionment of PAHs, molecular diagnostic ratio (MDR) method and principal component analysis (PCA), implied the impact of potential anthropogenic PAH sources, including petroleum leakage, pollution from boat repairing, maintenance and burning of coal emissions. The interpretation and integration of indices such as the total toxicity equivalence (TEQcarc), mean risk quotient (M-RQ) and mean effect range-medium quotient (M-ERM-Q) indicated that the harbour areas were under severe threat of ecological risk due to the highest concentration of PAHs, while the offshore region signified a high or moderate level of risk. The present study provides effectual scientific insight into the role of fishing harbours in PAH pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a comprehensive assessment of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the blubber of a stranded blue whale found on the coast of Taiwan. The analysis included polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). The whale exhibited evident signs of emaciation, including low body weight, reduced blubber fat content, and thin blubber thickness. The dominant fatty acid type detected in the blubber was short-chain monounsaturated fatty acids (SC-MUFA), known to aid in thermoregulation. Stable isotope ratios indicated that the blue whale occupied a lower trophic position compared to a fin whale, suggesting its proximity to krill habitats in the Southern Ocean for feeding. The average concentrations of DDTs (1089.2 ± 4.7 ng/g lw; ΣDDT) and PCBs (1057.1 ± 49.8 ng/g lw) in the blubber were almost one order of magnitude higher than PAHs (41.7 ± 10.0 ng/g lw), HCB (70.6 ± 2. ng/g lw), and PBDEs (7.2 ± 1.2 ng/g lw). Pollutant concentrations in this individual blue whale were comparable to levels found in Norway, higher than those found in Chile, and notably lower than those found in Canada and Mexico. Calculating the biomagnification factor (BMF) for the POPs from krill (Euphausia superba) to the blue whale revealed significant bioaccumulation of pollutants in this particular whale. Additional research is imperative to achieve a thorough comprehension of bioaccumulation of POPs and their potential toxicological impacts on whale health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) enter into the environment through various anthropogenic activities and cause air, water and soil pollution depending on their persistence in different matrices. POPs present in all the segments of environment are inherently toxic and accumulate in food products by atmospheric deposition from air, translocation in plants through contaminated soils and in seafood through polluted water. Moreover, the food products also get contaminated with POPs during the cooking processes including grilling and roasting. POPs settle down on soil and water surface through atmospheric fallout from air. The degradation of environmental pollutants has been achieved by different techniques such as photocatalysis and biodegradation. The separation and identification of degraded products as well as metabolites have been done preferably using liquid chromatographic techniques. Various pathways of degradation have also been suggested for degradation of different environmental pollutants. The review focuses on the application of latest chromatographic techniques for separation and identification of different degradation products of persistent organic pollutants and recent advancement in the areas of POPs analysis using liquid chromatographic techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strandings provide valuable information about rare marine organisms and their relationship with their environment. In the southern Gulf of México, specifically on the central coast of Campeche, Mexico, strandings of oceanic cetaceans have rarely been recorded, therefore, biological information has also been scarce. One of such rare stranding cases occurred on September 7, 2022, on the coast of Seybaplaya, Campeche. The specimen was identified as a female of Tursiops truncatus with the morphology features of the oceanic ecotype. The carcass was examined shortly after death, and samples for different analyses were obtained fresh. Tissue samples were collected, and some particular observations were made to define the individual's general health status. Results of the analyses revealed damage in the liver, lungs, and kidneys, probably related to 1) the advanced age of the organism (>35 years), and 2) the presence of persistent organic pollutants. Most importantly, this study contributed two new findings, the first record of the parasite Anisakis and the presence of renal calculi in the oceanic ecotype of T. truncatus in the southern Gulf of Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) may contribute to colorectal cancer risk, but the underlying mechanisms of crucial POPs exposure remain unclear. Hence, we systematically investigated the associations among POPs exposure, genetics and epigenetics and their effects on colorectal cancer. A case-control study was conducted in the Chinese population for detecting POPs levels. We measured the concentrations of 24 POPs in the plasma using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS) and evaluated the clinical significance of POPs by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). To assess the associations between candidate genetic variants and colorectal cancer risk, unconditional logistic regression was used. Compared with healthy control individuals, individuals with colorectal cancer exhibited higher concentrations of the majority of POPs. Exposure to PCB153 was positively associated with colorectal cancer risk, and PCB153 demonstrated superior accuracy (AUC=0.72) for predicting colorectal cancer compared to other analytes. On PCB153-related genes, the rs67734009 C allele was significantly associated with reduced colorectal cancer risk and lower plasma levels of PCB153. Moreover, rs67734009 exhibited an expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) effect on ESR1, of which the expression level was negatively related to PCB153 concentration. Mechanistically, the risk allele of rs67734009 increased ESR1 expression via miR-3492 binding and m6A modification. Collectively, this study sheds light on potential genetic and epigenetic mechanisms linking PCB153 exposure and colorectal cancer risk, thereby providing insight into the accurate protection against POPs exposure.

The greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from fossil fuel combustion and carbon dioxide (CO2) cause global warming and climate change. In this study, we synthesized three porphyrin-based azo-porous organic polymers (PBPOP1, PBPOP2, and PBPOP3) that enable the capture and one-step conversion of CO2. These catalysts effectively capture the CO2 molecules over N2 in a post-combustion environment. PBPOP3 exhibited an enhanced CO2/N2 selectivity at 313 K, with a value of 534. We characterized the porphyrin-based azo-POPs catalysts using FT-IR, 13C solid-state NMR, XRD, TGA, and HR-FESEM. We evaluated the gas adsorption properties using Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis, which included adsorption–desorption isotherms, NLDFT pore-size distribution, and adsorption at 298, 313, and 353 K. The fixation of CO2 with styrene oxide and phenyl glycidyl ether was performed using catalysts for conversion to styrene carbonate (tetra-n-butylammonium bromide was used as a co-catalyst). Thus, our findings can be used for reducing the amount of CO2 gas in the atmosphere by synthesizing porphyrin-based azo-POP catalysts.

The historical sedimentary and evolutionary characteristics of persistent organic pollutants and endocrine disruptors in typical regions of the Three Gorges Reservoir are scarcely studied. Herein, the 96-year data on contaminated sediment history were reconstructed using Caesium 137 isotope dating. Polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations in the involved sediment cores ranged from non-detected (ND) to 11.39 ng/g. The concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons ranged from ND to 2075.20 ng/g and peaked in the 1970s owing to natural, agricultural and human activities. Further, phthalate esters (PAEs) and heavy metals (HMs) were detected at concentrations ranging from ND to 589.2 ng/g and 12.10–93.67 μg/g, respectively, with highest values recorded in the 1980s owing to rapid industrialisation and insufficient management during China's early reform and development stages. PAE and HM concentrations have increased in recent years, suggesting the need to focus on industrial and agricultural activities that have caused this impact. Although current pollutant concentrations in sediments do not pose a risk to the aquatic ecosystem, they should be continuously monitored.

Anna Schwesinger,1,&ast; Li-Tang Tsai,1,&ast; Wei Lang,1 Noemi Mantegazza,1 Robert Bauernschmitt,2 Markus Johannes Wilhelm,2 Heike Annette Bischoff-Ferrari,1,3,4 Michael Gagesch1,5,6 1Center on Aging and Mobility, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; 2Clinic for Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; 3Department of Geriatrics and Aging Research, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; 4IHU HealthAge, University Hospital Toulouse and University Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France; 5Department of Aging Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; 6University Clinic of Aging Medicine, Zurich City Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Michael Gagesch, University Clinic for Aging Medicine, Zurich City Hospital, Tièchestrasse 99, 8037 Zürich, Switzerland, Tel +41 44 417 31 98, Email michael.gagesch@stadtspital.chPurpose: Postoperative delirium (POD) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is frequent in older adults and associated with multiple negative outcomes including a higher mortality. We aimed to investigate whether a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) prior to TAVI reduces the odds of POD and results in a positive change in self-care ability, intended to lay a foundation for future geriatric comanagement.Patients and methods: We used a retrospective, single-center study with a quasi-experimental design enrolling patients aged 70 years and older undergoing CGA before elective TAVI, and a nonrandomized comparison group without preoperative CGA. Data on POD occurrence during the first 5 days after TAVI (primary outcome) and change in self-care ability index (SPI) between admission and discharge (secondary outcome) were collected from electronic health records and CGA data (exposure) by clinical assessment. To explore associations between (1) CGA and POD, and (2) CGA and SPI, multivariate logistic regression and linear regression models were applied adjusting for age, sex, BMI, and number of medications.Results: Among 435 patients (mean age 81.0 ± 5.6 years, 43.6% women, median [IQR] SPI at baseline 40 [39, 40] points), POD incidence was 14.3% in the CGA group vs 18.8% in the non-CGA group (P 0.219). Undergoing CGA before TAVI was not associated with the odds for POD (OR: 1.15; 95%CI: 0.65– 2.04) or improved SPI (P 0.073).Conclusion: We observed no association of CGA prior to TAVI with POD incidence or postoperative self-care, highlighting the need for additional studies investigating the effect of POD preventive measures in older TAVI patients integrated into a comprehensive geriatric comanagement program.Keywords: POPS, frail older adults, perioperative care, aortic stenosis, TAVI, delirium

The link between environmental pollution and obesity is of high importance, because understanding the relationship between the two can provide valuable insights into the complex factors contributing to the obesity epidemic. These chemicals, termed "obesogens," are believed to disrupt lipid metabolism processes, therefore promoting the development of obesity. Human activities such as industrialization, urbanization, agriculture, and transportation have significantly contributed to environmental pollution. Therefore, the main identified obesogens are BPA found in plastics, food packaging, and thermal paper receipts, phthalates, commonly used in plastics, personal care products, and food packaging, toxic metal(oid)s, determined in non-stick cookware, water-resistant fabrics, and food packaging, pesticides, used in agriculture, as well as other persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and pharmaceuticals (waste). Addressing environmental pollution not only has the potential to improve environmental quality, but also to promote public health and prevent obesity-related diseases. Addressing the causality between pollutants and obesity could be a new and challenging road map for health professionals.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are omnipresent in the environment. Due to their physical and chemical properties, POPs bioaccumulate in higher trophic-level species. Birds inhabit many niches and trophic levels and share physiological characteristics with humans. Wild bird eggs reflect the pollution of the environment and exposure experienced by the female prior to egg formation. Bird eggs are relatively easy to collect, easy to handle and store, and decompose slowly. In addition, bird eggs can also be used as biomarkers by examining the eggshell pigmentation and thickness. Aquatic bird eggs have been used most often with less published on terrestrial birds that also suffer consequences of pollution. Here, we review candidate species whose eggs can be used as near-global indicators. We found the Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) as a suitable near-global indicator of terrestrial pollution. It is the most widespread Ardeid with extensive natural expansion, not threatened, occurs in high numbers, breeds in colonies with other Ardeids, has a high trophic status, and eggs are relatively large and easy to collect. Eggs of Cattle Egrets from eight countries and four continents have been analysed for pollutants such as PCBs, DDTs, HCH, HCB, dicofol, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, mirex, and endosulfan. Multi-country and trans-continental studies using Cattle Egret eggs would therefore be possible, tracking the effectiveness of interventions such as the Stockholm Convention.

Milk from cows, goats and sheep was analysed in terms of content of fourteen perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs).

Semi-volatile organic contaminants (SVOCs) are known for their tendency to evaporate from source regions and undergo atmospheric transport to distant areas. Cold condensation intensifies dry deposition, particle deposition, and scavenging by snow and rain, allowing SVOCs to move from the atmosphere into terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in alpine and polar regions. However, no standardized methods exist for the sampling, laboratory processing, and instrumental analysis of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in snow. The lack of reference methods makes these steps highly variable and prone to errors. This study critically reviews the existing literature to highlight the key challenges in the sampling phase, aiming to develop a reliable, consistent, and easily reproducible technique. The goal is to simplify this crucial step of the analysis, allowing data to be shared more effectively through standardized methods, minimizing errors. Additionally, an innovative method for laboratory processing is introduced, which uses activated carbon fibers (ACFs) as adsorbents, streamlining the analysis process. The extraction method is applied to analyze polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) and chlorinated pesticides (α-HCH, γ-HCH, p,p′-DDE, o,p′-DDT, HCB, and PeCB). The entire procedure, from sampling to instrumental analysis, is subsequently tested on snow samples collected on the Svalbard Islands. To validate the efficiency of the new extraction system, quality control measures based on the EPA methods 1668B and 1699 for aqueous methods are employed. This study presents a new, reliable method that covers both sampling and lab analysis, tailored for detecting POPs in snow.