TY  - JOUR
AB  - Human exposure to certain environmental chemicals, including phthalates, is linked to metabolic disruption and may thereby contribute to diseases like obesity. However, regulatory methods to evaluate such effects are lacking. DINCH was introduced as a substitute for banned phthalate plasticizers, but its primary metabolite, MINCH, has been shown to promote adipogenesis in human preadipocytes and alter the lipid metabolism of mature adipocytes. To investigate its potential metabolism-disrupting effects, we assessed changes in the central carbon metabolism activity of human preadipocytes and mature adipocytes by 13C metabolic tracing. In preadipocytes, MINCH increased glycolysis, pentose phosphate pathway activity, acetyl-CoA production from glucose and glutamine, and pyruvate anaplerosis, indicating a metabolic shift toward adipogenesis. In mature adipocytes, MINCH enhanced glycolysis, glyceroneogenesis, fatty acid oxidation, and oxidative TCA cycle activity, pathways associated with the browning of adipocytes. Elevated UCP1 expression confirmed MINCH-induced browning. Most pronounced effects occurred at micromolar concentrations, whereas subtle changes were already observed at nanomolar concentrations in preadipocytes, the biological relevance of which should be further investigated. Overall, our findings demonstrate the utility of 13C metabolic tracing as a New Approach Methodology for detecting chemical-induced metabolic alterations, thus providing a new perspective for the hazard and risk assessment of environmental contaminants.
AU  - Goerdeler, C.*
AU  - Engelmann, B.*
AU  - Broghammer, H.
AU  - Aldehoff, A.S.*
AU  - Wabitsch, M.*
AU  - Schubert, K.*
AU  - Blüher, M.
AU  - Heiker, J.T.
AU  - Rolle-Kampczyk, U.*
AU  - von Bergen, M.*
C1  - 75990
C2  - 58319
TI  - 13C metabolic tracing in human SGBS cells provides a potential new approach methodology for assessing metabolism-disrupting properties of environmental chemicals.
JO  - J. Hazard. Mater.
VL  - 500
PY  - 2025
SN  - 0304-3894
ER  - 

TY  - JOUR
AB  - An integrated framework is introduced and applied to assess the health impact of airborne pollution with greater physiological relevance, moving beyond conventional exposure metrics. Measured particle number size distribution data was integrated with a regional respiratory tract deposition fractions to estimate total and alveolar deposited particle surface area concentrations. Land use regression modeling, combined with randomized commuting patterns, enabled the evaluation of city-specific alveolar surface area deposition doses, providing new insight into localized average exposure and its implications for public health. The results showed that although the mean street-level air pollution in Lithuania is higher than in other European cities, the urban background levels are on the same level. We found that the total respiratory deposited surface area concentration is up to 18-fold higher due to coarse particles, which also determines alveolar deposited particle surface area dose. Our findings advocate for using integrated pollution assessments and region-specific policies rather than broad diesel vehicle-targeted bans. The proposed methodology is expected to enhance traditional exposure assessments by switching to lung deposited surface area, which can be further refined by incorporating daytime activity patterns, socio-economic status, and personal health conditions.
AU  - Kecorius, S.
AU  - Madueno, L.*
AU  - Birmili, W.*
AU  - Löndahl, J.*
AU  - Plauškaite, K.*
AU  - Byčenkiene, S.*
AU  - Lovrić, M.*
AU  - Petric, V.*
AU  - Carranza-García, M.*
AU  - Jiménez-Navarro, M.J.*
AU  - Martínez-Ballesteros, M.*
AU  - Weiss, M.
AU  - Schmid, O.
AU  - Cyrys, J.
AU  - Peters, A.
AU  - Kecorius, G.*
C1  - 75468
C2  - 58017
CY  - Radarweg 29, 1043 Nx Amsterdam, Netherlands
TI  - Urban pollution impact assessment in six lithuanian cities with a focus on road traffic emissions - integrated framework for environmental health studies.
JO  - J. Hazard. Mater.
VL  - 497
PB  - Elsevier
PY  - 2025
SN  - 0304-3894
ER  - 

TY  - JOUR
AB  - Bisphenol S (BPS) is widely used as a substitute for Bisphenol A (BPA). While perinatal BPS exposure is suspected to increase susceptibility to high-caloric diet-induced adipogenesis, how BPS affects offspring remains largely unknown. This study explored effects of prenatal BPS exposure on adiposity and insulin resistance in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed C57BL/6 offspring, revealing significant changes in body weight, glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, and histopathology. Employing nontargeted metabolomics and 16S rRNA sequencing, we constructed a comprehensive atlas of metabolome and microbiome shifts across heart, liver, pancreas, white adipose tissue (WAT), brown adipose tissue (BAT), and feces. Male offspring showed greater metabolic and microbial disturbances. Low-dose BPS exposure (0.05 mg/kg/d) induced changes across entire atlas comparable to high-dose (5 mg/kg/d). BAT and WAT were key target tissues with the most significant metabolic disturbances. BPS disrupted fatty acid β-oxidation in WAT by reducing carnitine carriers, causing WAT fat accumulation. A resistance mechanism to BPS exposure was indicated by both mobilization of BAT compensatory thermogenesis, characterized by increased carnitines and UCP1 expression, and an increase in beneficial commensal bacteria. Their competition and imbalance contributed to obesity and insulin resistance in offspring, highlighting the potential for early interventions targeting key metabolites and microbiota.
AU  - Li, S.*
AU  - Gao, L.*
AU  - Song, H.*
AU  - Lin, J.*
AU  - Zhang, S.*
AU  - Schmitt-Kopplin, P.
AU  - Zeng, J.
C1  - 72877
C2  - 56767
CY  - Radarweg 29, 1043 Nx Amsterdam, Netherlands
TI  - A comprehensive atlas of multi-tissue metabolome and microbiome shifts: Exploring obesity and insulin resistance induced by perinatal bisphenol S exposure in high-fat diet-fed offspring.
JO  - J. Hazard. Mater.
VL  - 485
PB  - Elsevier
PY  - 2025
SN  - 0304-3894
ER  - 

TY  - JOUR
AB  - Evaluating how different disinfectants influence the formation and toxicity of disinfection by-products (DBPs) is key to improving water treatment. Previous studies suggest that OXONE (potassium peroxymonosulfate) at ten times the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) provides more effective biofilm control compared to conventional chlorination and may serve as a promising alternative disinfectant. In this study, we investigated the changes in molecular composition, formation of DBPs, and human cell morphological responses in synthetic tap water (STW) treated with OXONE and calcium hypochlorite (Ca(OCl)₂) at MBC and 10 ×MBC. Ultrahigh-resolution mass spectrometry revealed that OXONE at 10 ×MBC enriched highly oxygenated CHOS species, increased hydrogen and sulfur content, and produced molecules with lower molecular weight and greater saturation. Ca(OCl)₂ increased CHOCl abundance, with chlorine content rising from 0.04 % at MBC to 0.11 % at 10 ×MBC, while maintaining molecular structures with similar degrees of unsaturation. DBPs analysis showed a 7.2-fold increase in CHOCl₂-DBPs under Ca(OCl)₂ at 10 ×MBC, predominantly in saturated/low-unsaturation structures, while OXONE increased sulfur-containing DBPs by 1.59-fold, mainly with lower aromaticity. Cell painting assay (CPA) in human U2OS cells revealed pronounced morphological changes and viability loss with OXONE at 10 ×MBC (Wilcoxon p < 0.05 vs Ca(OCl)₂), linked to microtubule disruption confirmed by β-tubulin staining. Integration of chemical and morphological data linked toxicity to sulfur-rich features, with CHOS compounds predominating and CHO contributing via OXONE-driven transformations, together driving the observed morphological disruptions. Overall, these findings reveal distinct chemical and cytotoxic effects of each disinfectant, highlighting the need to optimize treatment efficacy with health safety.
AU  - Zhang, X.
AU  - Harir, M.
AU  - Schick, J.A.
AU  - Lucio, M.
AU  - Gomes, I.B.*
AU  - Simões, M.G.*
AU  - Schmitt-Kopplin, P.
C1  - 76102
C2  - 58404
TI  - Cell phenotyping reveals chemical water disinfection treatment-induced molecular and morphological perturbations.
JO  - J. Hazard. Mater.
VL  - 500
PY  - 2025
SN  - 0304-3894
ER  - 

TY  - JOUR
AB  - Non-exhaust emissions have gained increasing attention during the last years, with the upcoming EURO 7 regulation defining maximum PM10 emission factors for tire and brake emissions for the first time. This study, therefore, focusses on broadening the knowledge on chemical composition and physical characteristics of brake dust to define emission factors for heavy metal and organic pollutants. Particles from two pads were analyzed utilizing the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) brake cycle. Geometric mean diameters for both pads were found with a bimodal distribution in the ultrafine range. PM10 emission factors of 15.1 ± 0.1 mg/km and 16.3 ± 0.4 mg/km were measured, which is 2.15 and 2.32 times higher than upcoming maximum permitted emission factor of 7 mg/km. On average 54.9 % and 58.1 % of PM10 was emitted as iron, with a wide variety of Fe concentrations between 43 - 75 % by mass found in individual particles. Other heavy metals, such as Cu, Cr, Mn and Zn, were also found and a high contribution of wear from the brake disc was noticeable, based on the elemental composition. Fe emission factors calculated from the WLTP brake cycle were 8-9 times higher than previously reported values in literature, while Cu levels were significantly lower based on recent trends in brake pad formulations. Four different PAH were detected even at the relatively low temperatures that are common for the WLTP brake test cycle.
AU  - Neukirchen, C.*
AU  - Saraji-Bozorgzad, M.R.*
AU  - Mäder, M.*
AU  - Mudan, A.P.*
AU  - Czasch, P.*
AU  - Becker, J.
AU  - Di Bucchianico, S.
AU  - Trapp, C.*
AU  - Zimmermann, R.
AU  - Adam, T.
C1  - 72549
C2  - 56618
CY  - Radarweg 29, 1043 Nx Amsterdam, Netherlands
TI  - Comprehensive elemental and physical characterization of vehicle brake wear emissions from two different brake pads following the Global Technical Regulation methodology.
JO  - J. Hazard. Mater.
VL  - 482
PB  - Elsevier
PY  - 2024
SN  - 0304-3894
ER  - 

TY  - JOUR
AB  - Effluent organic matter (EfOM) discharged from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) carry substantial risks to river ecosystems. The fate and role of EfOM in the receiving water is affected by its exposure to sunlight and microbial processes, but the extent of these processes remains unclear. In this study, three-phase sequence of irradiation and microbial incubation with EfOM were conducted to compare the behavior of EfOM with that of natural organic matter in receiving rivers (RNOM). The dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in EfOM was degraded by 23% after three sequential phases, while that in RNOM was degraded by 19%. In the first phase, the irradiation of EfOM stimulated microbial respiration and growth by producing easily metabolizable less aromatic lignin-type molecules, leading to a 21% increase in biodegradation. Conversely, the irradiation of RNOM removed biodegradable lignin-type molecules, causing a 50% decreased in biodegradation. The second and third irradiation phases of EfOM and RNOM produced biodegradable lignin-type molecules, making their molecular compositions increasingly similar. The acute toxicity of EfOM decreased by 55%, and differences in microbial species composition between EfOM and RNOM waters decreased by 82% after the three-phase sequence. These findings can improve understanding of the fate of EfOM discharged into receiving rivers.
AU  - Zheng, L.*
AU  - Xiao, F.F.*
AU  - Zhang, X.*
AU  - Deng, Y.*
AU  - Mo, S.*
AU  - Liu, Z.*
AU  - Gu, X.*
AU  - Hertkorn, N.
AU  - Korshin, G.V.*
AU  - Yan, M.*
C1  - 68827
C2  - 53696
CY  - Radarweg 29, 1043 Nx Amsterdam, Netherlands
TI  - Evaluation of the fate of wastewater effluent organic matter in receiving water: Effect of sequential photochemical and biological processes.
JO  - J. Hazard. Mater.
VL  - 463
PB  - Elsevier
PY  - 2024
SN  - 0304-3894
ER  - 

TY  - JOUR
AB  - Hydrocarbon pollution poses substantial environmental risks to water and soil. Bioremediation, which utilizes microorganisms to manage pollutants, offers a cost-effective solution. However, the role of viruses, particularly bacteriophages (phages), in bioremediation remains unexplored. This study examines the diversity and activity of hydrocarbon-degradation genes encoded by environmental viruses, focusing on phages, within public databases. We identified 57 high-quality phage-encoded auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) related to hydrocarbon degradation, which we refer to as virus-encoded hydrocarbon degradation genes (vHYDEGs). These genes are encoded by taxonomically diverse aquatic phages and highlight the under-characterized global virosphere. Six protein families involved in the initial alkane hydroxylation steps were identified. Phylogenetic analyses revealed the diverse evolutionary trajectories of vHYDEGs across habitats, revealing previously unknown biodegraders linked evolutionarily with vHYDEGs. Our findings suggest phage AMGs may contribute to alkane and aromatic hydrocarbon degradation, participating in the initial, rate-limiting hydroxylation steps, thereby aiding hydrocarbon pollution bioremediation and promoting their propagation. To support future research, we developed vHyDeg, a database containing identified vHYDEGs with comprehensive annotations, facilitating the screening of hydrocarbon degradation AMGs and encouraging their bioremediation applications.
AU  - Ru, J.
AU  - Xue, J.
AU  - Sun, J.*
AU  - Cova, L.
AU  - Deng, L.
C1  - 67986
C2  - 54464
CY  - Radarweg 29, 1043 Nx Amsterdam, Netherlands
TI  - Unveiling the hidden role of aquatic viruses in hydrocarbon pollution bioremediation.
JO  - J. Hazard. Mater.
VL  - 459
PB  - Elsevier
PY  - 2023
SN  - 0304-3894
ER  - 

TY  - JOUR
AB  - Vegetable crops irrigated with treated wastewater can take up the environmentally persistent pharmaceuticals diclofenac and lamotrigine. This study aimed at quantifying the uptake and translocation of the two pharmaceuticals in lettuce (Lactuca sativa) as well as on the elucidation of the molecular and physiological changes triggered by them. Therefore, plants were cultivated in a phytochamber in hydroponic systems under controlled conditions and treated independently with diclofenac (20 μg L−1) and lamotrigine (60 μg L−1) for 48 h. A low translocation of lamotrigine but not of diclofenac or its metabolite 4’-hydroxydiclofenac to leaves was observed, which corresponded with the expression of stress related genes only in roots of diclofenac treated plants. We observed an oxidative burst in roots and leaves occurring around the same time point when lamotrigine was detected in leaves. This could be responsible for the significantly changed gene expression pattern in both tissues. Our results showed for the first time that pharmaceuticals like lamotrigine or diclofenac might act as signals or zeitgebers, affecting the circadian expression of stress related genes in lettuce possibly causing a repressed physiological status of the plant.
AU  - Bigott, Y.
AU  - Chowdhury, S.P.
AU  - Pérez, S.*
AU  - Montemurro, N.*
AU  - Manasfi, R.*
AU  - Schröder, P.
C1  - 60156
C2  - 49279
CY  - Radarweg 29, 1043 Nx Amsterdam, Netherlands
TI  - Effect of the pharmaceuticals diclofenac and lamotrigine on stress responses and stress gene expression in lettuce (Lactuca sativa) at environmentally relevant concentrations.
JO  - J. Hazard. Mater.
VL  - 403
PB  - Elsevier
PY  - 2021
SN  - 0304-3894
ER  - 

TY  - JOUR
AB  - The control of degrader populations and the stochasticity and certainty of the microbial community in contaminated groundwater are not well-understood. In this study, a long-term contaminated groundwater ecosystem was selected to investigate the impact of BTEX on microbial communities and how microbial communities respond to BTEX pollution. 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metagenomic sequencing provided insights on microbial community assemblage patterns and their role in BTEX cleaning. The operational taxonomy units (OTUs) in the contaminated groundwater ecosystem were clustered distinguishably between the Plume and the Deeper Zone (lower contaminated zone). βNTI analysis revealed that the assembly strategies of abundant and rare OTU subcommunities preferred deterministic processes. Redundancy Analysis (RDA) and mantel testing indicated that benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) strongly drove the abundant OTU subcommunity, while the rare OTU subcommunity was only weakly affected. Deltaproteobacteria, the most dominant degrading microorganism, contains the complete degradation genes in the plume layer. In summary, our finding revealed that BTEX was the major factor in shaping the microbial community structure, and functional bacteria contribute greatly to water cleaning. Investigating the pattern of microbial community assembly will provide insights into the ecological controls of contaminant degradation in groundwater.
AU  - Huang, H.
AU  - Jiang, Y.
AU  - Zhao, J.*
AU  - Li, S.*
AU  - Schulz, S.
AU  - Deng, L.
C1  - 62423
C2  - 50839
CY  - Radarweg 29, 1043 Nx Amsterdam, Netherlands
TI  - BTEX biodegradation is linked to bacterial community assembly patterns in contaminated groundwater ecosystem.
JO  - J. Hazard. Mater.
VL  - 419
PB  - Elsevier
PY  - 2021
SN  - 0304-3894
ER  - 

TY  - JOUR
AB  - The pattern of microbial community assembly in petrochemical sludge is not well-explained. In this study, three kinds of petrochemical activated sludge (AS) from the same seed sludge were investigated to determine their microbial assembly pattern for long-term adaptation. Beta Nearest Taxon Index analysis revealed that the assembly strategies of the abundant and rare operational taxonomic unit (OTU) sub-communities are different for archaeal and bacterial communities. Abundant OTUs preferred deterministic processes, whereas rare OTUs randomly formed due to weak selection. Canonical correspondence analysis/variation partition analysis and Mantel testing results revealed that ammonium, petroleum, and chromium (Cr (VI)) mainly structured the abundant sub-communities. On the other hand, environmental variables, including ammonium, petroleum, and heavy metals, shaped the rare sub-communities. The PICRUSt2 tool was used to predict the functions. Results indicated a greater abundance of microbes harboring the hydrocarbon degradation pathway and heavy-metal-resistant enzymes. Cross-treatment experiments using one type of AS to treat the other two kinds of wastewater were conducted. The results of the cross-treatment experiments and qPCR both suggest the functional adaptation of the microbial community. We revealed selection strategies for the adaptation of bacteria and archaea in AS during environmental changes, providing a theoretical basis for petrochemical wastewater treatment.
AU  - Jiang, Y.
AU  - Huang, H.
AU  - Tian, Y.*
AU  - Yu, X.*
AU  - Li, X.*
C1  - 60827
C2  - 49668
CY  - Radarweg 29, 1043 Nx Amsterdam, Netherlands
TI  - Stochasticity versus determinism: Microbial community assembly patterns under specific conditions in petrochemical activated sludge.
JO  - J. Hazard. Mater.
VL  - 407
PB  - Elsevier
PY  - 2021
SN  - 0304-3894
ER  - 

TY  - JOUR
AB  - Concerns that airborne microplastics (MP) may be detrimental to human health are rising. However, research on the effects of MP on the respiratory system are limited. We tested the effect of MP exposure on both normal and asthmatic pulmonary physiology in mice. We show that MP exposure caused pulmonary inflammatory cell infiltration, bronchoalveolar macrophage aggregation, increased TNF-alpha level in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and increased plasma IgG1 production in normal mice. MP exposure also affected asthma symptoms by increasing mucus production and inflammatory cell infiltration with notable macrophage aggregation. Further, we found co-labeling of macrophage markers with MP incorporating fluorescence, which indicates phagocytosis of the MP by macrophages. A comparative transcriptomic analysis showed that MP exposure altered clusters of genes related to immune response, cellular stress response, and programmed cell death. A bioinformatics analysis further uncovered the molecular mechanism whereby MP stimulated production of tumor necrosis factor and immunoglobulins to activate a group of transmembrane B-cell antigens, leading to the modulation of cellular stress and programmed cell death in the asthma model. In summary, we show that MP exposure had detrimental effects on the respiratory system in both healthy and asthmatic mice, which calls for urgent discourse and action to mitigate environmental microplastic pollutants.
AU  - Lu, K.*
AU  - Lai, K.P.*
AU  - Stöger, T.
AU  - Ji, S.*
AU  - Lin, Z.*
AU  - Lin, X.*
AU  - Chan, T.F.*
AU  - Fang, J.K.*
AU  - Lo, M.*
AU  - Gao, L.*
AU  - Qiu, C.*
AU  - Chen, S.*
AU  - Chen, G.*
AU  - Li, L.*
AU  - Wang, L.*
C1  - 62477
C2  - 50783
CY  - Radarweg 29, 1043 Nx Amsterdam, Netherlands
TI  - Detrimental effects of microplastic exposure on normal and asthmatic pulmonary physiology.
JO  - J. Hazard. Mater.
VL  - 416
PB  - Elsevier
PY  - 2021
SN  - 0304-3894
ER  - 

TY  - JOUR
AB  - To date, there is no analytical approach available that allows the full identification and characterization of highly complex disinfection by-product (DBP) mixtures. This study aimed at investigating the chemodiversity of drinking water halogenated DBPs using diverse analytical tools: measurement of adsorbable organic halogen (AOX) and mass spectrometry (MS)-based target and non-target analytical workflows. Water was sampled before and after chemical disinfection (chlorine or chloramine) at four drinking water treatment plants in Sweden. The target analysis had the highest sensitivity, although it could only partially explain the AOX formed in the disinfected waters. Non-target Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) MS analysis indicated that only up to 19 Cl and/or Br-CHO formulae were common to all disinfected waters. Unexpectedly, a high diversity of halogenated DBPs (presumed halogenated polyphenolic and highly unsaturated compounds) was found in chloraminated surface water, comparable to that found in chlorinated surface water. Overall, up to 86 DBPs (including isobaric species) were tentatively identified using liquid chromatography (LC)-Orbitrap MS. Although further work is needed to confirm their identity and assess their relevance in terms of toxicity, they can be used to design suspect lists to improve the characterization of disinfected water halogenated mixtures.
AU  - Postigo, C.*
AU  - Andersson, A.*
AU  - Harir, M.
AU  - Bastviken, D.*
AU  - Gonsior, M.*
AU  - Schmitt-Kopplin, P.
AU  - Gago-Ferrero, P.*
AU  - Ahrens, L.*
AU  - Ahrens, L.*
AU  - Wiberg, K.*
C1  - 60026
C2  - 49175
CY  - Radarweg 29, 1043 Nx Amsterdam, Netherlands
TI  - Unraveling the chemodiversity of halogenated disinfection by-products formed during drinking water treatment using target and non-target screening tools.
JO  - J. Hazard. Mater.
VL  - 401
PB  - Elsevier
PY  - 2021
SN  - 0304-3894
ER  - 

TY  - JOUR
AB  - center dot Ionic liquids (Its) are considered as an alternative to traditional organic solvents due to their unique physical and chemical properties. On the one hand, they have promising solvating characteristics, on the other hand, they are considered as environmentally friendly "green" solvents. Recent studies of ILs toxicity however questioned the safety of ILs.center dot Assessment of the toxicity of ILs based on laboratory testing is time-consuming and requires significant resources. Complementing this task by applying computational methods is an option for filling data gaps and allows predicting the toxicity of ILs that lack experimental data. Development and application of quantitative structure activity relationships (QSARs) for innovative design of safe-by-design Its became recently a research priority. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on development of in silico models in predicting and classifying the hazards of ILs. In addition, we discuss biodegradability of ILs and assessment of mechanisms of toxicity of ILs based on the reported models.
AU  - Abramenko, N.*
AU  - Kustov, L.*
AU  - Metelytsia, L.*
AU  - Kovalishyn, V.*
AU  - Tetko, I.V.
AU  - Peijnenburg, W.*
C1  - 57409
C2  - 47748
CY  - Radarweg 29, 1043 Nx Amsterdam, Netherlands
TI  - A review of recent advances towards the development of QSAR models for toxicity assessment of ionic liquids.
JO  - J. Hazard. Mater.
VL  - 384
PB  - Elsevier
PY  - 2020
SN  - 0304-3894
ER  - 

TY  - JOUR
AB  - Carbamazepine (CBZ) is a pharmaceutical frequently categorized as a recalcitrant pollutant in the aquatic environment. Endophytic bacteria previously isolated from reed plants have shown the ability to promote growth of their host and to contribute to CBZ metabolism. In this work, a horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) hairy root (HR) culture has been used as a plant model to study the interactions between roots and endophytic bacteria in response to CBZ exposure. HRs could remove up to 5% of the initial CBZ concentration when they were grown in spiked Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. Higher removal rates were observed when HRs were inoculated with the endophytic bacteria Rhizobium radiobacter (21%) and Diaphorobacter nitroreducens (10%). Transformation products resulting from CBZ degradation were identified using liquid chromatography-ultra high-resolution quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (LC-UHR-QTOF-MS). CBZ metabolism could be divided in four pathways. Metabolites involving GSH conjugation and 2,3-dihydroxylation, as well as acridine related compounds are described in plants for the first time. This study presents strong evidence that xenobiotic metabolism and degradation pathways in plants can be modulated by the interaction with their endophytic community. Hence it points to plausible applications for the elimination of recalcitrant compounds such as CBZ from wastewater in CWs.
AU  - Sauvetre, A.
AU  - May, R.G.*
AU  - Harpaintner, R.
AU  - Poschenrieder, C.*
AU  - Schröder, P.
C1  - 51740
C2  - 44120
CY  - Amsterdam
SP  - 85-95
TI  - Metabolism of carbamazepine in plant roots and endophytic rhizobacteria isolated from Phragmites australis.
JO  - J. Hazard. Mater.
VL  - 342
PB  - Elsevier Science Bv
PY  - 2018
SN  - 0304-3894
ER  - 

TY  - JOUR
AB  - Oxybenzone (OBZ), known as Benzophenone-3, is a commonly used UV filter in sun tans and skin protectants, entering aquatic systems either directly during recreational activities or indirectly through wastewater treatment plants discharge. To study the potential degradation capacity of plants for OBZ in phytotreatment, a well-established hairy root culture (Armoracia rusticana) was treated with OBZ. More than 20% of spiked OBZ (100μM) was eliminated from the medium by hairy roots after 3h of exposure. Two metabolites were identified as oxybenzone-glucoside (OBZ-Glu) and oxybenzone-(6-O-malonyl)-glucoside (OBZ-Mal-Glu) by LC-MS/MS and TOF-MS. Formation of these metabolites was confirmed by enzymatic synthesis, as well as enzymatic and alkaline hydrolysis. Incubation with O-glucosyltransferase (O-GT) extracted from roots formed OBZ-Glu; whereas β-d-Glucosidase hydrolyzed OBZ-Glu. However, alkaline hydrolysis led to cleavage of OBZ-Mal-Glu and yielded OBZ-Glu. In the hairy root culture, an excretion of OBZ-Glu into the growth medium was observed while the corresponding OBZ-Mal-Glu remained stored in root cells over the incubation time. We propose that metabolism of oxybenzone in plants involves initial conjugation with glucose to form OBZ-Glu followed by malonylation to yield OBZ-Mal-Glu. To our best knowledge this first finding presenting the potential of plants to degrade benzophenone type UV filters by phytoremediation.
AU  - Chen, F.
AU  - Huber, C.
AU  - May, R.*
AU  - Schröder, P.
C1  - 47647
C2  - 40671
CY  - Amsterdam
SP  - 230-236
TI  - Metabolism of oxybenzone in a hairy root culture: Perspectives for phytoremediation of a widely used sunscreen agent.
JO  - J. Hazard. Mater.
VL  - 306
PB  - Elsevier Science Bv
PY  - 2016
SN  - 0304-3894
ER  - 

TY  - JOUR
AB  - The increasing load of pharmaceutical compounds has raised concerns about their potential residues in aquatic environments and ecotoxicity. Metformin (MET), a widely prescribed antidiabetic II medicine, has been detected in high concentration in sewage and in wastewater treatment effluents. An uptake and translocation study was carried out to assess the ultimate fate of MET in phytoremediation. MET was removed from media by Typha latifolia, and the removal processes followed first order kinetics. After 28 days, the removal efficiencies were in a range of 74.0±4.1-81.1±3.3%. In roots, MET concentration was increasing during the first two weeks of the experiment but thereafter decreasing. In contrast, MET concentration was continuously increasing in rhizomes and leaves. Bioaccumulation of MET in roots was much higher than in leaves and rhizomes. As degradation product of metformin in the plant, methylbiguanide (MBG) was detected whereas guanylurea was undetectable. Moreover, MBG concentration in roots was increasing with exposure time. An enzymatic degradation experiment showed the degradation rate followed the order of MET
AU  - Cui, H.
AU  - Schröder, P.
C1  - 47850
C2  - 39545
CY  - Amsterdam
SP  - 355-361
TI  - Uptake, translocation and possible biodegradation of the antidiabetic agent metformin by hydroponically grown Typha latifolia.
JO  - J. Hazard. Mater.
VL  - 308
PB  - Elsevier Science Bv
PY  - 2016
SN  - 0304-3894
ER  - 

TY  - JOUR
AB  - Compound-specific isotopic analysis of multiple elements (C, Cl, H) was tested to better assess the effect of a zero-valent iron-permeable reactive barrier (ZVI-PRB) installation at a site contaminated with tetrachloroethene (PCE) and trichloroethene (TCE). The focus was on (1) using (13)C to evaluate natural chlorinated ethene biodegradation and the ZVI-PRB efficiency; (2) using dual element (13)C-(37)Cl isotopic analysis to distinguish biotic from abiotic degradation of cis-dichloroethene (cis-DCE); and (3) using (13)C-(37)Cl-(2)H isotopic analysis of cis-DCE and TCE to elucidate different contaminant sources. Both biodegradation and degradation by ZVI-PRB were indicated by the metabolites that were detected and the (13)C data, with a quantitative estimate of the ZVI-PRB efficiency of less than 10% for PCE. Dual element (13)C-(37)Cl isotopic plots confirmed that biodegradation was the main process at the site including the ZVI-PRB area. Based on the carbon isotope data, approximately 45% and 71% of PCE and TCE, respectively, were estimated to be removed by biodegradation. (2)H combined with (13)C and (37)Cl seems to have identified two discrete sources contributing to the contaminant plume, indicating the potential of δ(2)H to discriminate whether a compound is of industrial origin, or whether a compound is formed as a daughter product during degradation.
AU  - Audí-Miró, C.*
AU  - Cretnik, S.
AU  - Torrentó, C.*
AU  - Rosell, M.*
AU  - Shouakar-Stash, O.*
AU  - Otero, N.*
AU  - Palau, J.*
AU  - Elsner, M.
AU  - Soler, A.*
C1  - 46544
C2  - 37719
SP  - 747-754
TI  - C, Cl and H compound-specific isotope analysis to assess natural versus Fe(0) barrier-induced degradation of chlorinated ethenes at a contaminated site.
JO  - J. Hazard. Mater.
VL  - 299
PY  - 2015
SN  - 0304-3894
ER  - 

TY  - JOUR
AB  - Understanding the uptake, accumulation and distribution of toxic elements in plants is crucial to the design of effective phytoremediation strategies, especially in the case of complex multi-element pollution. Using micro-proton induced X-ray emission, the spatial distribution of Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Zn, As, Br, Rb, Sr, Cd and Pb have been quantitatively resolved in roots and rhizomes of an obligate wetland plant species, Typha latifolia, treated with a mixture of 100 mu M each of As, Cd and Pb, together. The highest concentrations of As, Cd and Pb were found in the roots of the T. latifolia, with tissue-specific distributions. The As was detected in the root rhizodermis, and in the rhizome the majority of the As was within the vascular tissues, which indicates the high mobility of As within T. latifolia. The Cd was detected in the root exodermis, and in the vascular bundle and epidermis of the rhizome. The highest Pb concentrations were detected in the root rhizodermis and exodermis, and in the epidermis of the rhizome. These data represent an essential step in the resolution of fundamental questions in plant ionomics.
AU  - Lyubenova, L.
AU  - Pongrac, P.*
AU  - Vogel-Mikus, K.*
AU  - Mezek, G.K.*
AU  - Vavpetic, P.*
AU  - Grlj, N.*
AU  - Regvar, M.*
AU  - Pelicon, P.*
AU  - Schröder, P.
C1  - 24545
C2  - 31578
SP  - 371-378
TI  - The fate of arsenic, cadmium and lead in Typha latifolia: A case study on the applicability of micro-PIXE in plant ionomics.
JO  - J. Hazard. Mater.
VL  - 248
IS  - 1
PB  - Elsevier Science
PY  - 2013
SN  - 0304-3894
ER  - 

TY  - JOUR
AB  - Pharmaceuticals from human or veterinary medication form a new class of micropollutants that poses a serious threat to our aquatic environment and its organisms. The intensively used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac is found in the environment worldwide due to its poor elimination during waste water treatment processes. In order to test phytoremediation as a tool for the removal of this drug from waste water, the uptake of the compound into plant tissues and its metabolic pathway was addressed using Hordeum vulgare (barley) and a hairy root cell culture of Armoracia rusticana (horse radish) as model species. Diclofenac is taken up by plants and undergoes rapid metabolization; already after 3 h of exposure the drug and its metabolites could be detected in the plant tissues. Similar to its fate in mammalian cells the drug is activated in a phase I reaction resulting in the hydroxylated metabolite 4′OH-diclofenac which is conjugated subsequently in phase II to a glucopyranoside, a typical plant specific metabolite. After exposure to 10 and 100 μM diclofenac a concentration dependent formation of the hydroxylated metabolite was observed, while the formation of the phase II metabolite OH-diclofenac glucopyranoside was not positively affected by the higher concentration. To our knowledge this is the first time these two human painkiller metabolites are shown to occur in plant tissues.
AU  - Huber, C.
AU  - Bartha, B.
AU  - Schröder, P.
C1  - 10783
C2  - 30359
SP  - 250-256
TI  - Metabolism of diclofenac in plants – hydroxylation is followed by glucose conjugation.
JO  - J. Hazard. Mater.
VL  - 243
PB  - Elsevier
PY  - 2012
SN  - 0304-3894
ER  - 

TY  - JOUR
AB  - Ethyl tert butyl ether (ETBE) and tert amyl methyl ether (TAME) are oxygenates used in gasoline in order to reduce emissions from vehicles. The present study investigated their impact on a soil microflora that never was exposed to any contamination before. Therefore, soil was artificially contaminated and incubated over 6 weeks. Substrate induced respiration (SIR) measurements and phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis indicated shifts in both, microbial function and structure during incubation. The results showed an activation of microbial respiration in the presence of ETBE and TAME, suggesting biodegradation by the microflora. Furthermore, PLFA concentrations decreased in the presence of ETBE and TAME and Gram-positive bacteria became more dominant in the microbial community.
AU  - Bartling, J.*
AU  - Esperschütz, J.
AU  - Wilke, B.M.*
AU  - Schloter, M.
C1  - 6283
C2  - 28445
CY  - Amsterdam, Netherlands
SP  - 488-494
TI  - ETBE (ethyl tert butyl ether) and TAME (tert amyl methyl ether) affect microbial community structure and function in soils.
JO  - J. Hazard. Mater.
VL  - 187
IS  - 1-3
PB  - Elsevier Science Ltd.
PY  - 2011
SN  - 0304-3894
ER  - 

TY  - JOUR
AB  - The uncontrolled disposal of bottom ash from incineration units of hazardous and infected wastes in many countries causes significant scale damage, since it contaminates the soil as well as surface and underground waters, putting both the environment and the public health at risk. In view of the above, a study of bottom ash produced at a hospital medical waste incinerator (HMWI) in Greece was conducted, in order to detect the presence of heavy metals and therefore assess its toxicity; this led to conclusions on the possible contamination of the soil as well as surface and underground waters as a result of its disposal in landfills. The study was conducted at a typical general hospital with 500-bed capacity. About 880 kg of infectious waste coming from a general hospital with all medical departments are pyrolyticly incinerated at the HMWI every day. International literature contains many references to research that characterizes bottom ash as either dangerous, not dangerous, or inert, in an effort to diagnose its proper management and disposal. For this reason, this study focuses on the characterization of bottom ash. Samples were collected from a combustion chamber, over a period of 1 year, and a series of tests were conducted, including an analysis of particle size distribution, morphology, mineralogical and chemical composition, heavy metal leaching behavior and PCDD/F.
AU  - Gidarakos, E.*
AU  - Petrantonaki, M.*
AU  - Anastasiadou, K.*
AU  - Schramm, K.-W.
C1  - 1137
C2  - 26481
CY  - Netherlands
SP  - 935-942
TI  - Characterization and hazard evaluation of bottom ash produced from incinerated hospital waste.
JO  - J. Hazard. Mater.
VL  - 172
IS  - 2-3
PB  - Elsevier
PY  - 2009
SN  - 0304-3894
ER  - 

TY  - JOUR
AB  - Disposed olive cake generates hydrophilic components that can be mobilized in the aquatic environment. This paper deals with the characterization of such components, isolated by alkaline extraction. It is shown that these substances possess properties very much resembling humic acid, including a substantial inventory of proton exchanging groups. Extraction and purification of the hydrophilic components from the disposed olive cake was performed by the standard approach for isolation of humic acids from solid sources, i.e. alternating alkaline dissolution and acid flocculation, leaving the purified extract in the protonated form. The purified sample was characterized by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES), Fourier Transform Infra Red Spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-vis, Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) and Asymmetrical Flow Field-Flow Fractionation (AFFFF). The complex formation properties were investigated by potentiometry using Cu(II) ion selective electrode under atmospheric conditions at I=0.1M NaClO(4) (aqueous solution) and pH 6. The formation constant for the CuHA complex is found to be logbeta=5.3+/-0.4 which is close to the corresponding value (logbeta=5.2+/-0.4) obtained from similar investigations with the commercially available Aldrich humic acid (this study) and corresponding published values for various humic acids. Both, structural properties and complex formation data show that the olive cake extract has considerable similarities with humic acids from different sources, pointing towards potential similarities in environmental behavior and impact.
AU  - Kolokassidou, K.*
AU  - Szymczak, W.
AU  - Wolf, M.
AU  - Obermeier, C.
AU  - Buckau, G.*
AU  - Pashalidis, I.*
C1  - 89
C2  - 26211
SP  - 442-447
TI  - Hydrophilic olive cake extracts: Characterization by physicochemical properties and Cu(II) complexation.
JO  - J. Hazard. Mater.
VL  - 164
IS  - 2-3
PB  - Elsevier Science
PY  - 2009
SN  - 0304-3894
ER  - 

TY  - JOUR
AB  - Co-combustion of coal-solid waste mixtures in pilot and laboratory-scale combustors with emphasis on monitoring of toxic chlorinated hydrocarbon emissions such as polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and -furans (PCDD/F) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) is elaborated. The objective of the work is to investigate the so-called primary measures technique. Twenty different thermally resistant inorganic compounds were added directly to the fuel as inhibitors of PCDD/F formation. The fuel-types used in this study included lignite coal, pre-treated municipal solid waste and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Principle component analysis (PCA) provides the basis for a feasible discussion about the efficiency of 20 inhibitors on PCDD/F and PCB formation. The study showed that the metal oxides group investigated had no inhibitory effect. Although the single N- and S-containing compounds, used as additives for the type of lignite coal, solid waste and PVC fuel, are not very effective as inhibitors, all other N- and S-containing substances are capable to strongly reduce PCDD/F and PCB flue gas emission. The most effective inhibitors are (NH(4))(2)SO(4) and (NH(4))(2)S(2)O(3). (NH(4))(2)SO(4) present at 3% of the fuel can reduce the PCDD/F emissions to 90%. Its low cost and high efficiency favour them as useful for full-scale combustion units.
AU  - Pandelova, M.
AU  - Lenoir, D.
AU  - Schramm, K.-W.
C1  - 447
C2  - 24842
SP  - 615-618
TI  - Inhibition of PCDD/F and PCB formation in co-combustion.
JO  - J. Hazard. Mater.
VL  - 149
IS  - 3
PB  - Elsevier
PY  - 2007
SN  - 0304-3894
ER  -