Environmental and Human Health Risk Assessment of Emerging Contaminants

A special issue of Toxics (ISSN 2305-6304). This special issue belongs to the section "Exposome Analysis and Risk Assessment".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2022) | Viewed by 11452

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Predictive Toxicology, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Daejeon 34114, Korea
Interests: emerging contaminants; alternative chemicals; pharmaceuticals; environmental risk assessment; thyroid hormones; autism spectrum disorder; behavior; zebrafish; daphnid

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Emerging contaminants can be defined as natural or synthetic chemicals that are not currently regulated but cause adverse effects on environmental or human health. Many pharmaceuticals, pesticides, personal care products, microplastics, surfactants, or their transformation products are the examples of emerging contaminants. Use of emerging contaminants might be expanding with the introduction of new commercial items or as alternatives of known existing contaminants. However, the hazard and exposure information of these emerging contaminants remains largely unknown and their related risks were not quantified yet. In this respect, the risk assessment of emerging contaminants provides very crucial information in terms of risk control decisions, chemical management strategies, and prevention of environmental health concerns. Thus, this Special Issue aims to cover a range of topics including hazard characterization of emerging contaminants, environmental or human exposure of emerging contaminants and risk evaluation of emerging contaminants. In addition, the manuscripts introducing new approaches or new theoretical suggestions that support risk assessment and review manuscripts are also included in the scope of this Special Issue.

Dr. Sangwoo Lee
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • alternative chemicals
  • adverse health effects
  • emerging contaminant
  • exposure assessment
  • hazard index
  • toxicity test

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 2195 KiB  
Article
Dietary Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) Exposures in Juvenile Zebrafish Produce Subtle Behavioral Effects across Generations
by Yvonne Rericha, Lisa Truong, Connor Leong, Dunping Cao, Jennifer A. Field and Robyn L. Tanguay
Toxics 2022, 10(7), 372; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics10070372 - 4 Jul 2022
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2870
Abstract
Ubiquitous anthropogenic contaminants of concern, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are frequently detected in the environment and human populations around the world. Diet is a predominate route of human exposure, and PFAS are frequently measured in food. Manufacturing trends have shifted from legacy [...] Read more.
Ubiquitous anthropogenic contaminants of concern, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are frequently detected in the environment and human populations around the world. Diet is a predominate route of human exposure, and PFAS are frequently measured in food. Manufacturing trends have shifted from legacy PFAS to shorter-chain alternatives that are suggested to be safer, such as perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA). However, the current amount of data to support safety assessments of these alternatives is not yet sufficient. The present study investigated the effects of a 42-day dietary exposure to 1, 10, or 100 ng/g PFHxA in juvenile zebrafish. The zebrafish model was leveraged to interrogate morphometrics, fecundity, and numerous behavior endpoints across multiple generations. Dietary PFHxA exposure did not result in measurable body burden and did not affect growth, fecundity, adult social perception behavior, or associative learning. PFHxA exposure did induce abnormal adult anxiety behaviors in the F0 generation that persisted transgenerationally in the F1 and F2. Abnormal larval and juvenile behavior was observed in the F1 generation, but not in the F2. PFHxA juvenile dietary exposure induced subtle and multigenerational behavior effects that warrant further investigation of this and other alternative short-chain PFAS. Full article
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17 pages, 2552 KiB  
Article
Ecological Risk Assessment of Amoxicillin, Enrofloxacin, and Neomycin: Are Their Current Levels in the Freshwater Environment Safe?
by Sangwoo Lee, Cheolmin Kim, Xiaoshan Liu, Saeram Lee, Younglim Kho, Woo-Keun Kim, Pilje Kim and Kyungho Choi
Toxics 2021, 9(8), 196; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics9080196 - 23 Aug 2021
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4195
Abstract
Veterinary pharmaceuticals may cause unexpected adverse effects on non-target aquatic species. While these pharmaceuticals were previously identified as priority compounds in ambient water, their ecological risks are relatively unknown. In this study, a series of chronic toxicity tests were conducted for these pharmaceuticals [...] Read more.
Veterinary pharmaceuticals may cause unexpected adverse effects on non-target aquatic species. While these pharmaceuticals were previously identified as priority compounds in ambient water, their ecological risks are relatively unknown. In this study, a series of chronic toxicity tests were conducted for these pharmaceuticals using algae, two cladocerans, and a fish. After a 21-d exposure to amoxicillin, enrofloxacin, and neomycin, no observed effect concentration (NOEC) for the reproduction of Daphnia magna was detected at 27.2, 3.3, and 0.15 mg/L, respectively. For the survival of juvenile Oryzias latipes following the 40-d exposure, NOEC was found at 21.8, 3.2, and 0.87 mg/L, respectively. Based on the results of the chronic toxicity tests and those reported in the literature, predicted no-effect concentrations (PNECs) were determined at 0.078, 4.9, and 3.0 µg/L for amoxicillin, enrofloxacin, and neomycin, respectively. Their hazard quotients (HQs) were less than 1 at their average levels of occurrence in ambient freshwater. However, HQs based on the maximum detected levels of amoxicillin and enrofloxacin were determined at 21.2 and 6.1, respectively, suggesting potential ecological risks. As the potential ecological risks of these veterinary pharmaceuticals at heavily contaminated sites cannot be ignored, hotspot delineation and its management are required. Full article
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13 pages, 2557 KiB  
Article
Local Toxicity of Biocides after Direct and Aerosol Exposure on the Human Skin Epidermis and Airway Tissue Models
by Nahyun Lee, Dae Yong Jang, Do Hyeon Lee, Haengdueng Jeong, Ki Taek Nam, Dal-Woong Choi and Kyung-Min Lim
Toxics 2021, 9(2), 29; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics9020029 - 3 Feb 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3367
Abstract
Biocides are commonly used as spray- or trigger-type formulations, thus dermal and respiratory exposure to biocide aerosol is unavoidable. However, little is known about the impact of aerosolization on the local toxicity of biocides on the skin or the airway. We compared the [...] Read more.
Biocides are commonly used as spray- or trigger-type formulations, thus dermal and respiratory exposure to biocide aerosol is unavoidable. However, little is known about the impact of aerosolization on the local toxicity of biocides on the skin or the airway. We compared the local toxicity of biocides after direct or aerosol exposure on reconstructed human skin epidermis and upper airway models. Three biocides, 1,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one (BIT), 2-phenoxyethanol (PE), and 2-phenylphenol (OPP), most widely used in the market were selected. When the biocide was treated in aerosols, toxicity to the skin epidermis and upper airway tissue became significantly attenuated compared with the direct application as determined by the higher tissue viabilities. This was further confirmed in histological examination, wherein the tissue damages were less pronounced. LC-MS/MS and GC/MS analysis revealed that concentrations of biocides decreased during aerosolization. Importantly, the toxicity of biocides treated in 3 μm (median mass aerodynamic diameter (MMAD)) aerosols was stronger than that of 5 μm aerosol, suggesting that the aerosol particle size may affect biocide toxicity. Collectively, we demonstrated that aerosolization could affect the local toxicity of biocides on the skin epidermis and the upper airway. Full article
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