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Toxics
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Ecotoxicological Effects of Emerging Contaminants on Aquatic Species
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Ecotoxicological Effects of Emerging Contaminants on Aquatic Species

A special issue of Toxics (ISSN 2305-6304). This special issue belongs to the section "Ecotoxicology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 January 2024) | Viewed by 9277

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Davi Farias

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa 58051-900, Brazil
Interests: adverse outcome pathways; alternatives to animal testing; biomarkers; emerging contaminants; oxidative stress; predictive toxicology; zebrafish experimentation
Dr. Luís Félix

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Interests: toxicology; zebrafish; oxidative stress; biochemistry; behavior; development; mitochondria; ecotoxicology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Thiago Lopes Rocha

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiania, Brazil
Interests: ecotoxicology; aquatic ecotoxicology; biomarkers; emerging pollutants; microplastics; nanoplastics; nanomaterials; fish; gastropods; bivalves; multiple biomarker assessment

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sixty years ago, Rachel Carson published Silent Spring, inaugurating a major milestone in environmental activism. Carson reliably and skillfully translated for the general public the scientific findings of that time on the deleterious effects on human and environmental health of synthetic pesticides such as DDT. As a result of commotion and pressure from different environmental protection entities, some chemicals were banned, and regulatory frameworks were created for the release, monitoring, and safety of products used for pest control.

Although Silent Spring’s subject has been around for six decades, it is still very topical due to the growing number of little-known contaminants detected in environmental samples. Advances in synthetic chemistry and materials engineering have provided incredible solutions for areas such as the agriculture, construction, and textile industries and medicine. However, they have also unintentionally introduced substances and materials into the environment, with emphasis on aquatic compartments that are the final destination of all contaminants. This diverse group of contaminants has been described as contaminants of emerging concern or emerging contaminants.

Emerging contaminants are defined as synthetic or naturally occurring chemicals or any microorganisms that are not commonly monitored in the environment but have the potential to enter the environment and cause known or supposed adverse ecological and/or human health effects. They are pharmaceuticals, pesticides, industrial chemicals, surfactants, nanomaterials, micro(nano)plastics, and personal care products that are regularly found in groundwater, surface water, municipal wastewater, drinking water, and food sources.

The threat of emerging contaminants lies in the fact that the environmental and human toxicology of most of these compounds have not yet been studied. In this sense, ecotoxicity testing through exposure of aquatic (vertebrates, invertebrates and unicellular) species to those contaminants has historically been the main approach to obtain exposure-effect data. However, new approach methodologies aligned with Toxicity Testing in the 21st Century vision by US NRC, as well as advances in computational toxicology, high-throughput techniques, in vitro to in vivo extrapolation, and QSAR and AOP models have also been widely used for environmental risk assessment from a plethora of poorly studied contaminants against aquatic organisms.

This Special Issue will focus on the investigation of ecotoxicological effects of emerging contaminants on aquatic species using in silico, in vitro and/or in vivo approaches. The proposal of new methods or tests to investigate the effects of these contaminants on aquatic biota will also be considered in this Special Issue.

Dr. Davi Farias
Dr. Luís Felix
Prof. Dr. Thiago Lopes Rocha
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Toxics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • adverse outcome pathways
  • aquatic organisms
  • contaminants of emerging concern
  • ecotoxicity testing
  • QSAR
  • personal care products
  • pharmaceuticals
  • nanomaterials
  • pesticides
  • predictive toxicology

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 2827 KiB  
Article
Embryotoxic Effects of Pesticides in Zebrafish (Danio rerio): Diflubenzuron, Pyriproxyfen, and Its Mixtures
by Júlia Robert de Sousa Teixeira, Augusto Monteiro de Souza, João Vitor de Macedo-Sampaio, Fabiano Peres Menezes, Bruno Fiorelini Pereira, Silvia Regina Batistuzzo de Medeiros and Ana Carolina Luchiari
Toxics 2024, 12(2), 160; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12020160 - 18 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1193
Abstract
Diflubenzuron (DFB) and pyriproxyfen (PPF) are larvicides used in crops to control insect plagues. However, these pesticides are known to impact non-target organisms like fish and mammals. Here, we aimed at assessing the embryotoxicity of purified DFB, PPF, and their mixtures in a [...] Read more.
Diflubenzuron (DFB) and pyriproxyfen (PPF) are larvicides used in crops to control insect plagues. However, these pesticides are known to impact non-target organisms like fish and mammals. Here, we aimed at assessing the embryotoxicity of purified DFB, PPF, and their mixtures in a non-target organism—zebrafish. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to different concentrations for 120 h: 0.025, 0.125, 0.25, 1.25, 2.5, and 10 mg/L of purified PPF and purified DFB, while we used 0.025 mg/L PPF + 10 mg/L DFB (Mix A), 0.125 mg/L PPF + 10 mg/L DFB (Mix B), and 0.25 mg/L PPF + 10 mg/L DFB (Mix C) for the mixtures of PPF + DFB. We observed mortality, teratogenicity, and cardiotoxicity. For the neurotoxicity tests and evaluation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in the brain, embryos were exposed for 120 h to 0.379 and 0.754 mg/L of PPF and 0.025 and 0.125 mg/L of DFB. We established the LC50 for PPF as 3.79 mg/L, while the LC50 for DFB was not determinable. Survival and hatching were affected by PPF concentrations above 0.125 mg/L, DFB concentrations above 1.25 mg/L, and the lower pesticide mixtures. PPF exposure and mixtures induced different types of malformations, while a higher number of malformations were observed for the mixtures, suggesting a potentiating effect. Pesticides diminished avoidance responses and increased the levels of ROS across all concentrations, indicating neurotoxicity. Our findings underscore the detrimental impact of PPF and DFB exposure, spanning from biochemistry to morphology. There is a critical need to reconsider the global use of these pesticides and transition to more ecologically friendly forms of pest control, raising an alarm regarding repercussions on human and animal health and well-being. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotoxicological Effects of Emerging Contaminants on Aquatic Species)
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18 pages, 536 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Essential and Potentially Toxic Elements in Water and Sediment and the Tissues of Sciaena deliciosa (Tschudi, 1846) from the Coast of Callao Bay, Peru
by Angélica Guabloche, Lorena Alvariño, Thiago Machado da Silva Acioly, Diego Carvalho Viana and José Iannacone
Toxics 2024, 12(1), 68; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12010068 - 14 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1280
Abstract
The lorna drum Sciaena deliciosa is a coastal demersal species and one of the underlying artisanal fisheries in some areas of Peru, and is also a source of protein for Peruvian coastal dwellers. The investigation addresses concern about the environmental impact on this [...] Read more.
The lorna drum Sciaena deliciosa is a coastal demersal species and one of the underlying artisanal fisheries in some areas of Peru, and is also a source of protein for Peruvian coastal dwellers. The investigation addresses concern about the environmental impact on this fish species and the potential risks to human health through the consumption of contaminated seafood. This research endeavors to assess the concentration of potentially toxic and essential elements in the muscle and liver tissues of S. deliciosa, in addition to the presence thereof in water and sediment capture areas on the coast of Callao, Peru. The study revealed that, in water samples, Ag, Ni, and Zn exceed Peruvian standards, but were below international standards, and Ba, P, Se, and Sn exceed international standards. In the sediments, As, Cd, Pb, Fe, and Zn were above international standards. In the fish, S. delicious muscle demonstrated As, Hg, and Pb exceeding at least one international standard. In the liver, As, Hg, Pb, and Cu exceed international standards. The study approach increased accuracy in risk assessments, offering crucial insights into the interplay between heavy metal pollution, water quality, and animal health, informing risk management strategies. Future studies can explore the long-term effects of heavy metal exposure on different organisms and consider their cumulative impact on health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotoxicological Effects of Emerging Contaminants on Aquatic Species)
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18 pages, 18126 KiB  
Article
Network Toxicology and Molecular Docking to Investigate the Non-AChE Mechanisms of Organophosphate-Induced Neurodevelopmental Toxicity
by Juliana Alves da Costa Ribeiro Souza, Terezinha Souza, Isadora Louise Alves da Costa Ribeiro Quintans and Davi Farias
Toxics 2023, 11(8), 710; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11080710 - 17 Aug 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1481
Abstract
Organophosphate pesticides (OPs) are toxic substances that contaminate aquatic environments, interfere with the development of the nervous system, and induce Neurodevelopmental Toxicity (NDT) in animals and humans. The canonical mechanism of OP neurotoxicity involves the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), but other mechanisms non-AChE [...] Read more.
Organophosphate pesticides (OPs) are toxic substances that contaminate aquatic environments, interfere with the development of the nervous system, and induce Neurodevelopmental Toxicity (NDT) in animals and humans. The canonical mechanism of OP neurotoxicity involves the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), but other mechanisms non-AChE are also involved and not fully understood. We used network toxicology and molecular docking to identify molecular targets and toxicity mechanisms common to OPs. Targets related to diazinon-oxon, chlorpyrifos oxon, and paraoxon OPs were predicted using the Swiss Target Prediction and PharmMapper databases. Targets related to NDT were compiled from GeneCards and OMIM databases. In order to construct the protein–protein interaction (PPI) network, the common targets between OPs and NDT were imported into the STRING. Network topological analyses identified EGFR, MET, HSP90AA1, and SRC as hub nodes common to the three OPs. Using the Reactome pathway and gene ontology, we found that signal transduction, axon guidance, cellular responses to stress, and glutamatergic signaling activation play key roles in OP-induced NDT. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotoxicological Effects of Emerging Contaminants on Aquatic Species)
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20 pages, 2120 KiB  
Article
Present in the Aquatic Environment, Unclear Evidence in Top Predators—The Unknown Effects of Anti-Seizure Medication on Eurasian Otters (Lutra lutra) from Northern Germany
by Simon Rohner, Martina Gramer, Ivo Wiesweg, Oliver Scherf-Clavel, Peter Wohlsein, Martin Schmelz, Ursula Siebert, Franziska Richter and Manuela Gernert
Toxics 2023, 11(4), 338; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11040338 - 31 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1537
Abstract
Emerging contaminants are produced globally at high rates and often ultimately find their way into the aquatic environment. These include substances contained in anti-seizure medication (ASM), which are currently appearing in surface waters at increasing concentrations in Germany. Unintentional and sublethal, chronic exposure [...] Read more.
Emerging contaminants are produced globally at high rates and often ultimately find their way into the aquatic environment. These include substances contained in anti-seizure medication (ASM), which are currently appearing in surface waters at increasing concentrations in Germany. Unintentional and sublethal, chronic exposure to pharmaceuticals such as ASMs has unknown consequences for aquatic wildlife. Adverse effects of ASMs on the brain development are documented in mammals. Top predators such as Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) are susceptible to the bioaccumulation of environmental pollutants. Still little is known about the health status of the otter population in Germany, while the detection of various pollutants in otter tissue samples has highlighted their role as an indicator species. To investigate potential contamination with pharmaceuticals, Eurasian otter brain samples were screened for selected ASMs via high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Via histology, brain sections were analyzed for the presence of potential associated neuropathological changes. In addition to 20 wild otters that were found dead, a control group of 5 deceased otters in human care was studied. Even though none of the targeted ASMs were detected in the otters, unidentified substances in many otter brains were measured. No obvious pathology was observed histologically, although the sample quality limited the investigations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotoxicological Effects of Emerging Contaminants on Aquatic Species)
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Review

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32 pages, 2910 KiB  
Review
2,4-D Herbicide-Induced Hepatotoxicity: Unveiling Disrupted Liver Functions and Associated Biomarkers
by Rafael Xavier Martins, Matheus Carvalho, Maria Eduarda Maia, Bruno Flor, Terezinha Souza, Thiago Lopes Rocha, Luís M. Félix and Davi Farias
Toxics 2024, 12(1), 35; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12010035 - 2 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1556
Abstract
2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) is a widely used herbicide worldwide and is frequently found in water samples. This knowledge has prompted studies on its effects on non-target organisms, revealing significant alterations to liver structure and function. In this review, we evaluated the literature on [...] Read more.
2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) is a widely used herbicide worldwide and is frequently found in water samples. This knowledge has prompted studies on its effects on non-target organisms, revealing significant alterations to liver structure and function. In this review, we evaluated the literature on the hepatotoxicity of 2,4-D, focusing on morphological damages, toxicity biomarkers and affected liver functions. Searches were conducted on PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus and 83 articles were selected after curation. Among these studies, 72% used in vivo models and 30% used in vitro models. Additionally, 48% used the active ingredient, and 35% used commercial formulations in exposure experiments. The most affected biomarkers were related to a decrease in antioxidant capacity through alterations in the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase and the levels of malondialdehyde. Changes in energy metabolism, lipids, liver function, and xenobiotic metabolism were also identified. Furthermore, studies about the effects of 2,4-D in mixtures with other pesticides were found, as well as hepatoprotection trials. The reviewed data indicate the essential role of reduction in antioxidant capacity and oxidative stress in 2,4-D-induced hepatotoxicity. However, the mechanism of action of the herbicide is still not fully understood and further research in this area is necessary. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotoxicological Effects of Emerging Contaminants on Aquatic Species)
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Other

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27 pages, 1222 KiB  
Systematic Review
Freshwater Lacustrine Zooplankton and Microplastic: An Issue to Be Still Explored
by Jassica Lawrence, Carlotta Santolini, Gilberto Binda, Stefano Carnati, Ginevra Boldrocchi, Andrea Pozzi and Roberta Bettinetti
Toxics 2023, 11(12), 1017; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11121017 - 13 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1387
Abstract
Lakes are essentially interlinked to humans as they provide water for drinking, agriculture, industrial and domestic purposes. The upsurge of plastic usage, its persistence, and potential detrimental effects on organisms cause impacts on the trophic food web of freshwater ecosystems; this issue, however, [...] Read more.
Lakes are essentially interlinked to humans as they provide water for drinking, agriculture, industrial and domestic purposes. The upsurge of plastic usage, its persistence, and potential detrimental effects on organisms cause impacts on the trophic food web of freshwater ecosystems; this issue, however, still needs to be explored. Zooplankton worldwide is commonly studied as an indicator of environmental risk in aquatic ecosystems for several pollutants. The aim of the review is to link the existing knowledge of microplastic pollution in zooplankton to assess the potential risks linked to these organisms which are at the first level of the lacustrine trophic web. A database search was conducted through the main databases to gather the relevant literature over the course of time. The sensitivity of zooplankton organisms is evident from laboratory studies, whereas several knowledge gaps exist in the understanding of mechanisms causing toxicity. This review also highlights insufficient data on field studies hampering the understanding of the pollution extent in lakes, as well as unclear trends on ecosystem–level cascading effects of microplastics (MPs) and mechanisms of toxicity (especially in combination with other pollutants). Therefore, this review provides insight into understanding the overlooked issues of microplastic in lake ecosystems to gain an accurate ecological risk assessment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotoxicological Effects of Emerging Contaminants on Aquatic Species)
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