Waste management (New York, N.Y.)Luigi Acampora, Giulia Costa, Iason Verginelli, Erica Tediosi, Alessia Falsetti, Silvia Messinetti, Lorenzo Maggi, Francesco Lombardi, Claudia Mensi
Bottom ash (BA) treatment for metal recovery is widely implemented in European waste-to-energy plants. The resulting mineral fractions are increasingly recycled, mainly in construction applications. However, in many countries including Italy, assessments for verifying the environmental compatibility of the products are mainly performed through leaching compliance tests and comparing the results to generic limit values, which do not reflect actual use conditions. This study applies an integrated, risk-based assessment approach for ten mineral fraction samples produced by four full-scale Italian BA treatment plants. Standardized pH-dependence, up-flow percolation and batch leaching tests were performed on each type of sample, as well as aquatic and terrestrial ecotoxicological assays to evaluate the environmental compatibility of the materials for different use scenarios. Results showed that the groundwater application (free use) scenario was consistently critical, with exceedances for several contaminants (e.g. Al, Cr, Cu, Mo, Pb and Sb) and ecotoxicological effects observed for all samples. Conversely, for large-scale unbound applications, only limited exceedances were identified, generally within a factor of 1-3 relative to the risk-based thresholds, and mainly associated with chromium release at low liquid-to-solid ratios. Ecotoxicological results confirmed this trend, with only minor deviations (up to 1.5 times the acceptable dilution factor). No exceedances of human health risk-based limits or ecotoxicological effects were observed for applications such as road sub-base use. Overall, a good agreement was found between the leaching-based and ecotoxicological assessments, indicating that both approaches capture consistent risk patterns. The results demonstrate that, under realistic application conditions and without direct groundwater contact, the investigated materials can be safely used, supporting the adoption of scenario-based evaluation frameworks instead of generic compliance criteria.
Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicologyEduardo Ruíz-Hernández, José Roberto Villagómez-Ibarra, Manuel Eduardo Martínez-López, César Abelardo González-Ramírez, Juan Carlos Gaytán-Oyarzun, René Velázq…
Anionic surfactants are widely used in domestic and industrial products and are commonly discharged into aquatic environments due to inadequate wastewater treatment, particularly in developing countries. This study evaluated the ecological risk of Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate (LAS) in Mexican lotic systems using data from the National Water Quality Measurement Network collected between 2019 and 2024. Measured environmental concentrations were compared with a predicted no-effect concentration of 0.08723 mg/L derived from a species sensitivity distribution model and with a value established by the Mexican state for the protection of aquatic life: Freshwater, 0.1 mg/L. Ecological risk was characterized using risk quotients (RQs), which identified sites with unacceptable risk (RQs ≥ 1). Spatial analyses revealed persistent multi-year hotspots, suggesting semi-continuous discharges and limited contaminant removal. Key uncertainties include reliance on acute toxicity data, Interferences associated with the MBAS method, and limited information for native tropical species. These findings emphasize the need to strengthen wastewater treatment policies (in low and middle-income countries) and expand chronic toxicity assessments using native aquatic species.
Environmental science and pollution research internationalShimul Das, Sanjay Belowar, Md Rahamatolla, Md Abdul Jalil, Shahidul Islam, Md Manjurul Haque, Md Golam Shaharia Limon, Ram Kollol Bhattacharjee, Shahin Hossain
The sustainable design of textile dyes is essential to reduce environmental risks associated with conventional azo colorants. In this study, a novel biphenyl-dimedone-based azo dye, 2,2'-([1,1'-biphenyl]-4,4'-diylbis(diazene-2,1-diyl))bis(3-hydroxy-5,5-dimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-one) (BD), was synthesized and systematically evaluated for structural, dyeing, and ecotoxicological properties. Comprehensive characterization using FTIR, NMR, and UV-Vis spectroscopy, supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, confirmed the predominance of the enol tautomer, which exhibited a lower HOMO-LUMO gap (3.326 eV) than the keto form (3.671 eV), indicating enhanced electronic delocalization and fiber affinity. Cotton dyeing trials revealed that bio-mordanting with Allium cepa L. peel extract yielded superior color strength (K/S = 4.599) and fastness compared with alum mordanting, highlighting the efficacy of sustainable mordanting strategies. Ecotoxicological assessments demonstrated complete antibacterial inactivity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains, minimizing risks of antimicrobial resistance, while phytotoxicity assays with Triticum aestivum showed 100% germination and only mild, reversible seedling effects, contrasting sharply with the severe phytotoxicity of conventional azo dyes such as Congo red. Collectively, these results establish BD dye as an environmentally benign, high-performance colorant and provide a design strategy for developing sustainable textile dyes that integrate strong dye-fiber interactions with ecological safety.
Journal of environmental managementJingwen Zhang, Xiaowen Liu, Zhongkun Du, Bing Li, Jun Wang, Jinhua Wang, Lusheng Zhu
The widespread application and residual accumulation of polyethylene (PE) agricultural films in saline soils have contributed to the co-occurrence of PE particles and plasticizers such as di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). Although the environmental presence of these agricultural film components is recognized, their combined ecological risks and the subsequent management challenges they pose remain poorly understood. The present study evaluated the comprehensive toxicity effects and ecotoxicological risk implications of DEHP alone and in co-exposure with PE on earthworms within a salinized soil environment using a multi-biomarker evaluation approach. The results revealed that both treatments induced oxidative stress, DNA damage, tissue damage, and molecular responses potentially linked to growth and reproduction. Notably, DEHP + PE co-exposure induced stronger comprehensive toxicity effects than DEHP alone in a concentration-dependent manner under the tested salinized soil conditions. To elucidate the underlying pathways and identify potential early-warning indicators for soil monitoring, transcriptomics and molecular docking were employed. Transcriptomic profiling indicated that solitary DEHP exposure primarily disrupted digestive metabolism and cellular processes. In contrast, co-exposure to DEHP and PE significantly impaired neural and vascular development pathways. Molecular docking analysis further supported these findings by illustrating the specific binding interactions of DEHP with key target proteins. Ultimately, the current study integrates multi-level biological evidence to support ecotoxicological risk evaluation of DEHP and DEHP + PE co-exposure, offering potential implications for future ecological risk assessment, soil monitoring, and sustainable management of agricultural plastic residues in saline ecosystems.
Environmental science and pollution research internationalMuhammad A El-Alfy, Marwa M AbouHadied, Tahany A Ismail
One of the most serious pollution problems in aquatic lake systems is contamination by heavy metals (HMs) and microplastics (MPs). These pollutants cause serious harm to aquatic organisms. The research focused on studying HMs (Mn, Cd, Pb, Ni, and Cr) and MPs in organs of Clarias gariepinus inhabitant of Burullus Lake. Water and live fish samples were collected from the northwestern part of the lake, preserved and then transferred for laboratory analyses. HMs were analyzed using digestion methods with nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide. For MPs, 10% potassium hydroxide was used. The metal ions followed these orders Mn > Cr > Cd > Ni > Pb and Mn > Cr > Cd > Pb > Ni in the liver and muscle, respectively. In water, this order was Mn > Cr > Pb > Ni > Cd. The highest bioconcentration factor (BCF) was for Mn in both tissues; the lowest was Pb in the liver and Cd in the muscle. The metal concentrations exceeded the limits reported by FAO/WHO. The estimated daily and weekly intakes (EDI and EWI) were higher than 1 in both adults and children. The hazard index (HI) was within the limit of 1. The values were higher for Cd, Pb, and Ni than the tolerable value of lifetime carcinogenic risk according to USEPA of (10-5). The most abundant microplastics (MPs) were transparent lines, followed by colored fibers and then colored fragments. The polymeric composition of microplastics was 333 T Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene [PTFE]) in the intestine and 118 T (low-density polyethylene [LDPE]) in the muscle. The pollution load index for MPs was more than 1 in both tissues. The histopathological changes indicated a loss of detoxification ability and intestinal integrity, as manifested by hepatocellular necrosis and vacuolar degeneration. Intestinal lesions exhibited villous sloughing along with necrobiotic alterations and iron deposition. It is concluded that high contamination ratios of MPs were observed in the tested samples and these ratios may increase within time if water and sediments are not treated effectively.
Ecotoxicology (London, England)Vieyle Cortez, Estela González-Rodríguez, José R Verdú, Antonio J Ortiz, Rocío Rosa-García
Synthetic anthelmintics widely used in livestock production are largely excreted unchanged in faeces, where they can exert sublethal and lethal effects on non-target organisms such as dung beetles. Phytochemical compounds, including thymol (THY), have been proposed as environmentally compatible alternatives; however, information on their ecotoxicological safety across different dung beetle taxa remains limited. We assessed the sublethal effects of dietary thymol on Thorectes lusitanicus (Coleoptera: Geotrupidae), a flightless tunneller dung beetle considered functionally sensitive to veterinary drug residues. Antennal sensory responses were evaluated using electroantennography, and immune function was assessed by measuring haemolymph total protein content, phenoloxidase and prophenoloxidase activities. Ivermectin was included as a reference compound due to its well-documented ecotoxic effects on dung beetles. Thymol ingestion did not affect antennal olfactory responses or immune parameters across a wide range of concentrations, and no neurotoxic symptoms were observed. Significant inhibitory effects were detected only at concentrations substantially higher than thymol residues measured in cattle dung following dietary supplementation. In contrast, ivermectin significantly impaired olfactory function and induced clear neurotoxic symptoms. Overall, these results indicate that thymol is unlikely to cause ecotoxicologically relevant sublethal effects in tunneller dung beetles under the exposure scenarios evaluated. Our findings suggest that thymol-based phytochemical anthelmintics may represent environmentally compatible alternatives to conventional veterinary drugs.
Comprehensive reviews in food science and food safetyKenneth S Rivera-González, Jay S Petrick, Christine M Crincoli, Matthew D Teegarden, Paul R Hanlon
Toxicology has evolved into a robust scientific discipline since the 16th century when Paracelsus, the "Father of Toxicology," established the basic yet fundamental principle that "the dose makes the poison." Toxicology is often first associated with the chemical and pharmaceutical industries; however, it plays an equally relevant role in evaluating food chemical safety, a field gaining increasing attention from both the scientific community and consumers. Though essential for human survival, foods can also pose risks, underscoring the relevance of the toxicological principle of "the dose makes the poison." The fundamental principles of toxicology are often misunderstood, miscommunicated, and misperceived in the context of food safety risk assessments. Importantly, this misalignment among scientists and science communicators can promulgate further issues of false information, confusion, and distrust with consumers. This paper presents key terminology and concepts used in food toxicology with the ultimate goal of promoting an accurate and consistent understanding among scientists and communicators within the broad field of food science.
Birth defects researchL David Wise, John M DeSesso
Reliable interpretation of animal toxicology studies depends on the ability to reproduce and replicate experimental findings. Recent discussions of Virtual Control Groups (VCGs) in nonclinical toxicology have emphasized the importance of matching study variables when constructing control datasets. However, the biological implications of variability among studies have received limited explicit attention. In embryo-fetal developmental toxicity (EFDT) studies, numerous intrinsic and extrinsic variables can influence pregnancy outcomes, fetal development, and the interpretation of findings. Drawing on previous analyses of EFDT variability and recent discussions of VCG implementation, 69 potential sources of non-treatment variability were identified and organized into five general domains, including animals, pre-study practices, the microenvironment, the macroenvironment, and study design/procedures. These domains differ in the degree to which they can be controlled or standardized across laboratories. Some variables may have negligible effects under many conditions, whereas others, alone or in combination, may influence study outcomes. EFDT outcomes are therefore inherently context-dependent, reflecting the combined influence of treatment and study context. Under such conditions, strict replicability of control-group outcomes across studies becomes biologically improbable. Recognition of this inherent variability has implications for expectations of study concordance and for the construction of VCGs as well as often-used historical control data (HCD). The development of reliable VCGs is therefore most feasible within individual laboratories where major domains of variability can be more closely aligned.
Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of ToxicologyArchana Hari, Zhen Xu, Zachary Smith, John I Hendry, Scott S Auerbach, Mohamed Diwan M AbdulHameed, Valmik Desai, Anders Wallqvist, Venkat R Pannala
Chemical toxicity assessment commonly includes in vivo rat exposure experiments, with transcriptomic measurements collected at various exposure times and chemical doses. The mechanisms underlying chemical-induced toxicity are then inferred by analyzing changes in gene expression. Recently, genome-scale metabolic models (GSMs), which represent the metabolic network of a cell/organism and contain metabolites, reactions, genes, and the relationship between the genes and reactions, have been used to provide a systems-level understanding of gene expression. However, most of the algorithms that integrate gene expression with GSMs require familiarity with MATLAB or Python programming, making them less accessible for users without computational experience. Here, we introduce ToxMet (https://toxmet.bhsai.org), an open-access, user-friendly web application that provides tabular and graph-based network views to visualize the latest rat GSM (iRno v4.2) and predicts chemical-induced metabolic perturbations in rat tissues by integrating toxicogenomic measurements with the rat GSM. ToxMet uses two well-validated computational algorithms, TIMBR and Pheflux, to predict metabolic perturbations and provides the prediction results as interactive and downloadable tables, scatter plots, and network visualizations. As such, the web tool can process a maximum of 10 conditions for a single job, and the results can be used for dose-response studies to monitor organ metabolism at the subsystem level. We evaluated ToxMet's ability to predict toxicity mechanisms by applying it to publicly available toxicogenomic data for two exemplar toxicants: Gentamicin and thioacetamide, which are known to induce kidney and liver injury, respectively. ToxMet predicted known toxicity mechanisms for both chemicals, thus demonstrating its ability to provide novel insights into the metabolic mechanisms of chemical-induced toxicity and aid in the discovery of biomarkers and therapeutics using gene expression data.
FlyJumriani Jumriani, Ratnawati Ratnawati, Youdiil Ophinni, Emil Salim, Firzan Nainu
Pharmaceutical waste has been recognized as an emerging contaminant that is increasingly detected in the environment and may pose ecotoxicological risks. This review aims to describe the global development of research on pharmaceutical waste within the field of ecotoxicology and to examine the role of insects in trophic food-chain exposure pathways. A bibliometric analysis was conducted using the Scopus database, comprising 1,051 articles published between 2010 and 2025. The results show a consistent upward trend in publications, with pharmaceutical ecotoxicology research predominantly focused on aquatic environments, environmental risk assessment, contaminant monitoring, and toxicological evaluation. Keyword analysis further indicates that terrestrial exposure pathways remain comparatively less emphasized within the current bibliometric landscape. The narrative review indicates that pharmaceutical waste can accumulate in organisms and be transferred through the food chain, leading to various physiological and systemic toxic effects, even at low environmental concentrations. In this context, insects play a strategic role as mediators of trophic exposure. Hermetia illucens is relevant in waste management and biotransformation processes, while Drosophila melanogaster is a well-established model organism for investigating physiological and molecular responses to pharmaceutical compound exposure. Thus, this review discusses the potential of an insect-based ecotoxicology framework in which H. illucens may serve as a bioconversion model for waste processing and D. melanogaster as a mechanistic model for toxicological studies. We also highlight the need for a more integrative ecotoxicological approach to pharmaceutical waste that explicitly considers insect involvement and food chain - based exposure pathways.
Propofol (PRF) is a short-acting intravenous anesthetic widely used for the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia. However, multiple accidental deaths resulting from the non-therapeutic use of PRF have been reported; therefore, PRF is an important target analyte in forensic investigations. In this study, quantitative analytical methods for PRF and propofol glucuronide (PRG) in postmortem blood were developed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). For quantification, PRF was derivatized with N-(2-(bromomethyl)benzyl)-N,N-diethylethanaminium bromide (CAXB) to increase LC-MS/MS detection sensitivity. PRF was quantified using selected reaction monitoring (SRM) in positive ion mode. The extract was diluted after the derivatization reaction, and the quantification range was set to 0.1-20 μg/mL, which is suitable for routine quantitative analysis of PRF in postmortem blood samples. PRG was quantified using SRM in positive ion mode. Both analytical methods were validated and applied to authentic postmortem blood samples. The utility of PRG as a complementary marker in SRM-based drug screening was evaluated. Our findings demonstrate that PRG is a valuable indicator of PRF exposure in forensic casework and may help address limitations in the routine detection of PRF.
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)Maria Sofia Fede, Manuela Pellegrini, Adele Minutillo, Alida Likey, Angelo Montana, Francesco Paolo Busardò, Anastasio Tini
Background: Oxycodone is a widely prescribed semi-synthetic opioid central to pain management. However, establishing its role in death when detected in postmortem toxicology is challenging. Quantitative evidence to support forensic interpretation remains limited. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. PubMed and Scopus were searched through 3 March 2026, for studies reporting quantitative postmortem oxycodone concentrations in human biological matrices. Peripheral blood was predefined as the primary matrix for quantitative synthesis. Random-effects meta-analysis with restricted maximum likelihood estimation was performed on logarithmically transformed concentrations to compare fatal intoxications versus non-intoxication deaths and mono- versus mixed-intoxication cases. Pooled estimates were reported as geometric mean concentrations with 95% confidence and prediction intervals. Secondary analyses evaluated metabolite-to-parent ratios, alternative matrices, and postmortem interval (PMI). Results: Twenty-three studies comprising 4335 oxycodone-positive decedents were included in the qualitative synthesis, and 14 studies in the quantitative meta-analysis. Fatal intoxication cases (n = 1555) showed a pooled geometric mean peripheral blood oxycodone concentration of 0.37 mg/L (95% CI: 0.24-0.58; I2 = 93.5%), compared with 0.08 mg/L (95% CI: 0.04-0.15; I2 = 98.5%) in non-intoxication deaths (n = 1409). Mono-intoxication cases (n = 135) exhibited higher concentrations (0.52 mg/L; 95% CI: 0.22-1.21; I2 = 82.3%) than mixed-drug fatalities (n = 511; 0.29 mg/L; 95% CI: 0.13-0.65; I2 = 93.1%). Metabolite data indicated that noroxycodone and oxymorphone patterns may assist in distinguishing acute intake and metabolic variability. Alternative matrices, particularly vitreous humor and solid tissues provided complementary interpretative information, while PMI contributed concentration variability. Conclusions: The key quantitative findings of this meta-analysis indicate higher peripheral blood oxycodone levels in fatal intoxications than in non-intoxication deaths. However, substantial heterogeneity precludes the definition of absolute concentration cut-offs, emphasizing the need to approach postmortem oxycodone interpretation within a probabilistic forensic framework integrating circumstantial evidence, sampling time, metabolite ratios, and data from alternative biological matrices.
Journal of analytical toxicologySue Pearring, Simone Tchu, Brigitte Desharnais, Alexandra Doyon, Pascal Mireault, Simon Elliott, Luke N Rodda
Interpretation of postmortem (PM) γ-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) remains challenging due to endogenous production and PM increases in concentration associated with decomposition. Existing interpretation guidelines primarily rely on a single criterion, such as concentration thresholds or urine-to-blood ratios. In San Francisco, routine and unbiased implementation of GHB testing across all casework generated a large dataset including 1865 GHB detections in PM blood or urine, of which 552 were paired peripheral blood and urine samples. Cases were categorized as acute exogenous use, confirmed exogenous use, or no indication of use based on toxicological and investigative findings. Peripheral blood concentrations in cases with no indication of use did not vary significantly by age, gender, race, or manner of death but were significantly higher in decomposed cases. While existing guidelines effectively identify endogenous levels, the proposed hybrid model, combining peripheral blood concentration (B) with urine-to-blood ratio (U/B), enables further classification into no exogenous use, possible exogenous use (B > 5 mg/L and U/B > -0.05 × B + 4), and acute exogenous use (B > 50 mg/L and U/B > -0.05 × B + 10). The model was evaluated and compared to existing guidelines. Internal applicability was assessed using recent casework, and external applicability was evaluated using an independent dataset from Québec, Canada. The hybrid model demonstrated improved performance, achieving substantially higher positive predictive value when compared to existing guidelines, while maintaining equal or improved performance measures across other metrics. This approach provides a conservative, evidence-based framework for distinguishing acute exogenous GHB use in PM casework.
Journal of analytical toxicologyPirkko Kriikku, Paula Vauhkonen, Ilkka Ojanperä, Petteri Oura
Post-mortem forensic toxicology aims to assist in cause-of-death investigations, especially in suspected toxicity cases. Utilizing a large toxicology database derived from routine medico-legal autopsies, we tested a probabilistic approach in assessing the contribution of a toxicological finding to the underlying cause of death. In this retrospective study, theoretical general prior odds for a poisoning death were calculated for three different groups of cases based on the laboratory referral issued by the forensic pathologist. The groups were, in descending order according to the likelihood of poisoning: (i) suspected poisoning (N = 6356), (ii) exclusion of poisoning (N = 12 641), and (iii) for background information only (N = 15 018). Propranolol was selected as a model compound with 548 propranolol-positive cases in the database. First, the detected propranolol concentrations were divided into concentration ranges. Then, a likelihood ratio (LR) for each concentration range was calculated as the probability of observing a propranolol concentration within a certain concentration range given that propranolol poisoning was the cause of death, divided by the probability of observing a propranolol concentration within the same concentration range given that propranolol poisoning was not the cause of death. To showcase the practical applicability, posterior odds for fatal propranolol poisoning were derived using the odds form of Bayes' theorem (posterior odds = prior odds × LR) for a selection of propranolol-positive cases (N = 5) and compared with the cause of death recorded on the death certificate. In our dataset, the point estimate for LR exceeded 1 for propranolol concentrations ≥1.0 mg/L. The LR proved useful in assisting in the cause-of-death determination and making the interpretive process more systematic and transparent. Despite some limitations, this study added to the evidence of the usefulness of a probabilistic approach in assessing the relevance of a toxicology finding in autopsy cases.