Currently, there is a growing concern for human health with the rise of environmental pollution. Water contamination and health problems had been understood. Sanitation-related health issues have been overcome in the greater part of the world. Progressive industrialization has caused a number of new pollutants in water and in the atmosphere. It is a growing concern for the human health, especially upon the reproductive health. Current researchers provide a strong association between the rising concentrations of ambient pollutants and the adverse health impact. Furthermore, the pollutants have the adverse effects upon reproductive health as well. Major concern is for the health of a pregnant woman and her baby. Maternal-fetal inflammatory response due to the pollutants affects the pregnancy outcome adversely. Preterm labor, fetal growth restriction, intrauterine fetal death, and stillbirths have been observed. Varieties of pathological processes including inflammation, endocrine dysfunction, epigenetic changes, oxidative and nitrosative stress, and placental dysfunction have been explained as the biological plausibility. Prospective studies (systematic review and meta-analysis) have established that exposure to particulate matters (PM) and the nanoparticles (NP) leads to excessive oxidative changes to cause DNA mutations, lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation. Progressive industrialization and emergence of heavy metals, micro- (MP) and nanoparticles (NP) in the atmosphere and in water are the cause for concern. However, most of the information is based on studies from industrialized countries. India needs its own country-based study to have the exact idea and to develop the mechanistic pathways for the control.

The application of uranium (U) in the nuclear energy and defense industry has driven U mining activities, leading to subsequent U contamination. Understanding the toxicity and detoxification mechanism of U in plants is crucial for enhancing the efficiency of phytoremediation efforts in U-contaminated soils. The present study investigated the toxicity of uranium (U) in radish and its impact on physiological and molecular responses. The application of U (5-25 mu M) for 3 days significantly inhibited the elongation of radish lateral roots, and the lateral root length decreased by 35.6%-60.7% compared with the control. Under U stress, radish root tip meristem cells suffered DNA damage, fortunately the cells remained viable. To repair damaged DNA, the expression of genes involved in DNA repair (e.g. RAD2, XPC, BLM) was up-regulated, and the expression of genes involved in cell cycle was down-regulated (e.g. CYCB, CDKB). Under U stress, the expression of respiratory burst oxidase homologs (RBOHs) genes in radish roots up-regulated, which caused ROS burst, and then enhanced autophagy by promoting the expression of autophagy related genes (ATGs). Simultaneously, the glutathione (GSH) content increased, and the gene expression levels and activities of antioxidant enzymes (e.g. catalase) were increased, which enhanced the antioxidant capacity of root cells. Moreover, ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) (e.g. E3 ligase genes NEDD4) was involved in the activation of DNA repair, GSH synthesis and autophagy. In summary, DNA repair, autophagy, and antioxidant systems were activated in radish roots, which promoted the survival of apical meristem cells under U stress.

Despite its proven high toxicity, unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) continues to be used in rocket technology and some other areas of human activity. In this work, the ability of plant-bacterial consortia to reduce the genotoxicity of UDMH and its incomplete oxidation products was investigated. Genotoxicity was assessed using a specific lux-biosensor, Escherichia coli MG1655 pAlkA-lux, which emits stronger light when cellular DNA is alkylated. For microbiological biodegradation, the Bacillus subtilis KK1112 strain was isolated from the soil via a two-stage selection process for resistance to high UDMH concentrations exceeding 5000 MAC. This strain's ability to biodegrade UDMH was demonstrated, as treatment of UDMH-polluted medium with KK1112 resulted in reduced DNA alkylation. A synergistic reduction in the DNA-alkylating potency of UDMH oxidation products was studied under the combined application of bacteria KK1112 and plant seedlings: Bromus inermis Leyss, Medicago varia Mart. and Phleum pratense L. The greatest effect was achieved when bacteria were used in combination with B. inermis. KK1112 cells accelerated seedling development and mitigated UDMH-induced growth inhibition. The findings suggest that the consortium of KK1112 and B. inermis has a great potential for remediation of UDMH-polluted soils in arid climatic zones.

This study investigated the sub-lethal effects of four commercial fungicides-two foliar (Amistar (R) Xtra and Mirador (R)) and two ear fungicides (Prosaro (R) and Icarus (R))-applied alone and in combination to wheat crops on caged earthworms (Eisenia fetida). We measured biomarkers that included detoxification responses (glutathione S-transferase, GST), oxidative stress levels (lipid peroxidation, LPO, and catalase, CAT), DNA damage (comet assay), energy reserves (lactate dehydrogenase, LDH), and immune response (lysozyme activity, LYS). The absence of significant differences in catalase and lipid peroxidation levels suggested no oxidative stress due to fungicide exposure. However, the foliar fungicide Amistar (R) Xtra induced the highest GST activity and DNA fragmentation, suggesting synergistic effects between its active ingredients and undisclosed co-formulants. Similar effects observed with the Amistar (R) Xtra-Prosaro (R) mixture confirmed the greater toxicity of Amistar (R) Xtra. This study provides novel insights into the sub-lethal effects of single and combined commercial fungicides on a standard toxicity test organism, shedding light on the ecological implications of fungicide use in agroecosystems and reinforcing the need for pesticide reduction.

Superfund sites are where soil, air, and water are polluted with hazardous materials. Individuals residing and working in these areas are often exposed to metals and other hazardous materials, leading to many adverse health outcomes, including cancer. While individuals are often exposed to multiple chemicals simultaneously, the combined effect of such exposures remains largely unexplored. Here, we investigated the toxicity of metal mixtures in five categories of in vitro assays measuring cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, genotoxicity, cytokine release, and angiogenesis. After testing these mixtures in primary cells and cell lines, we discovered that the nickel/arsenic/cadmium and beryllium/arsenic/cadmium combinations exhibited higher cytotoxicity than their individual compounds, suggesting that the mixtures amplified the cytotoxic effect. To investigate the mechanism underlying their toxicity, we evaluated metal-induced oxidative stress, as oxidative stress is a common factor in most metal-related toxicities. Our results showed that cadmium-induced oxidative stress was increased in mixtures. Some mixtures that induced oxidative stress further increased DNA damage, inhibited DNA synthesis, and activated p53. In addition, some mixtures significantly increased interleukin-8 secretion and angiogenesis more than their component compounds. Our findings offer important insights into metal-related toxicity at Superfund sites.

We identified several new TILLING mutants of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) with missense mutations in the HvNAC8 gene, a homolog of the SUPPRESSOR OF GAMMA RESPONSE 1 (SOG1) gene in Arabidopsis thaliana. In Arabidopsis, SOG1 is the primary regulator of the DNA Damage Response (DDR) pathway. We aimed to transfer this knowledge to barley, an agriculturally important crop. Our detailed analysis of the hvnac8.k mutant revealed an impaired DDR pathway. The hvnac8.k mutant accumulates DNA damage under genotoxic stress induced by zeocin, but it also shows increased DNA damage under normal growth conditions. Despite this, the frequency of dividing cells in the root meristem of the mutant treated with zeocin is much less affected than in the wild type. This suggests that the mutant bypasses the typical DDR regulation, where cell division is halted to allow DNA repair following damage. We also analyzed our mutant under aluminum (Al3+) stress. Aluminum ions, present in acidic soils that constitute approximately 50 % of arable land, are a common stressor that significantly reduce barley yield. Al3 + is known to cause DNA damage and activate DDR. Consequently, we aimed to assess whether the hvnac8.k phenotype could confer a beneficial effect under aluminum stress, a widespread agronomic challenge. Our findings suggest that modulation of the DDR pathway has the potential to improve aluminum tolerance in barley.

Polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) are commonly found alongside fungicides in farmland soils. However, the toxic effects of varying PE-MP sizes and concentrations on soil fauna in fungicide-contaminated soils are unclear. This study aimed to investigate the impact of different PE-MP sizes (13, 48, and 150 mu m) and concentrations (0.05% and 0.25%) on tebuconazole accumulation, oxidative stress, and gut bacteria in earthworms. The results indicated that earthworms exposed to MP13-H accumulated the highest tebuconazole on day 7, 19.77 % higher than tebuconazole alone, 7.27 % higher than MP48-H, and 10.30 % higher than MP150-H. MP13-H led to the most severe oxidative stress, significantly increasing the oxidative biomarkers catalase and peroxidase in earthworms. After 28 days, the expression of glutathione sulfotransferase genes was the lowest in the MP13-H group, while the antibacterial defense gene heat shock protein 70 and translationally controlled tumor protein were the highest, indicating severe DNA damage and increased toxicity to earthworms. Further, 150-mu m PE-MPs caused the most severe damage to the intestinal epithelium. Moreover, PE-MPs induced an increase in the abundance of specific gut bacterial community associated with oxidative stress. The study suggested that PE-MPs changed the migration of fungicides to earthworms, induced oxidative stress, altered gene expression, and modified the gut microbiota, thereby increasing the risk to earthworms.

The sub-lethal ecotoxicity of field-contaminated soils toward small soil fauna, such as enchytraeids, remains understudied but holds paramount importance in soil pollution assessment. This study employed Enchytraeus crypticus to evaluate metal-contaminated soils from a mining area across various levels of biological organization, including individual level responses (survival, growth, reproduction, Cd/Pb/Zn accumulation), cellular level effects (peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), lipid peroxidation malondialdehyde (MDA)) and genetic alterations (olive tail moment (OTM) and tail DNA%). The study revealed considerable Cd and Pb accumulation, exerting adverse impacts on the reproduction and growth of the enchytraeids after a 21-day exposure. Changes in cellular and genetic parameters occurred with increasing exposure concentration and duration, indicating heightened lipid peroxidation and DNA damage in enchytraeids. A noteworthy metal detoxification process, evident at a physical level, was identified in E. crypticus, , characterized by an initial escalation in toxicity followed by a subsequent decline. A distinctive complementary mechanism governing oxidative damage was detected in the enchytraeids, with an initial suppression of CAT activity, followed by inductions in SOD, POD, and GSH activity. Over the exposure duration, MDA content and DNA damage in the enchytraeids exhibited concentration-dependent shifts indicating their potential as efficient early-warning indicators for assessing the impact of Pb-Zn mining soils. This study contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the toxicological implications of metal-contaminated soils within the soil-enchytraeid framework.

Allelopathy is an underlying and controversial mechanism for detrimental environmental effects in the management of Eucalyptus plantations. However, little attention has been paid to the dynamics of allelochemicals and phytotoxicity in soil fauna during litter decomposition. To explore the relationship between the dynamics of phytotoxicity and allelochemicals, a decomposition experiment was conducted using 4-year-old and 8-year-old Eucalyptus grandis litter (0, 10, 20, 30, and 45 days). The acute toxicity of Eisenia fetida was assessed, and a chemical analysis of the eucalyptus leaves was performed. Biochemical markers, including total protein, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, and oxidative stress levels (SOD and MDA) were measured. A comet assay was used to determine DNA damage in E. fetida cells. The results showed that after 20-30 days of decomposition, E. grandis litter exhibited stronger phytotoxic effects on E. fetida in terms of growth and biochemical levels. After 20 days of decomposition, the weight and total protein content of E. fetida first decreased and then increased over time. SOD activity increased after 20 days but decreased after 30 days of decomposition before increasing again. MDA content increased after 20 days, then decreased or was stable. AChE activity was inhibited after 30 days of decomposition and then increased or stabilized with further decomposition. Soluble allelochemicals, such as betaine, chlorogenic acid, and isoquercitrin, significantly decreased or disappeared during the initial decomposition stage, but pipecolic acid significantly increased, along with newly emerging phenolic fractions that were present. More allelochemicals were released from 8-year-old litter than from 4-year-old E. grandis litter, resulting in consistently more severe phytotoxic responses and DNA damage in E. fetida. Scientific management measures, such as the appropriate removal of leaf litter in the early stages of decomposition, might help support greater biodiversity in E. grandis plantations.

The toxicity of nanoparticles has attracted much attention, but the toxicity of nanoparticle types to soil fauna remains unclear. In this study, the earthworm (Eisenia fetida) was selected as a representative soil fauna to evaluate the toxicity of nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HAP), -zeolite (n-zeolite), and -iron tetroxide (n-Fe3O4) to soil fauna. The results showed that the skin ultrastructure, mortality, growth, antioxidant systems, and genetic material of the earthworms were affected to varying degrees by different nanoparticles. A filter paper test indicated that dermal exposure to nanoparticles primarily caused lesions in the cuticle, microvilli, and nucleus of the epithelial cells of earthworm skin. Soil incubation experiments showed that all types of nanoparticles could cause weight loss in earthworms, but only n-Fe3O4 resulted in their death. The reactive oxygen species and glutathione contents in earthworms exposed to n-Fe3O4 were much higher than those in earthworms exposed to n-HAP and n-zeolite. All nanoparticles stimulated the catalase and lactate dehydrogenase activity and damaged the DNA of earthworms. Integrated biomarker responses showed that the toxicity to earthworms increased in the following order: n-HAP < n-zeolite < n-Fe3O4. The characterization results indicated that the differences in surface hydroxyl groups and surface charge may be the cause of the differences in toxicity between n-HAP and n-zeolite with similar properties. The highest toxicity of n-Fe3O4 could be due to the size, spherical morphology, positive surface charge and the presence of Fe(II).