This study examines the microbiological and mycotoxicological quality of common wheat in Romania in the extremely dry 2023-2024 agricultural year. Common wheat grown in the West Plain, Southern Hilly Area, Transylvania, and northern Moldavia (45-48 degrees N, 21-27 degrees E) had higher moisture content, water activity, Fusarium-damaged kernels, and deoxynivalenol levels. This was due to moderate temperatures, abundant precipitation, and soil water reserves in May, followed by moderate drought from June to August. Conversely, common wheat from the Oltenia Plain, the Southern Plain, and southern Moldavia (43-46 degrees N, 23-28 degrees E) had the lowest contamination levels, attributed to extreme temperatures and drought during June-August. Common wheat from Dobrogea (45 degrees N, 28 degrees E) showed the highest total fungi contamination, which was influenced by precipitation at harvest. Although microbiological and mycotoxicological contamination was low, it negatively affected the physico-chemical and sensory-colorimetric parameters of common wheat, particularly in the West Plain, Oltenia Plain, and Dobrogea. Consequently, there could be significant economic losses for farmers, storekeepers, millers, and bakers, as well as a decline in the quality of finished foods. Moreover, the coexistence of deoxynivalenol and total aflatoxins in common wheat grown in the northwest of the country indicates the spread of contamination due to dry conditions and climate change.

As the demand for fish increases, the amount of wastewater generated from fishponds is also increasing with potential environmental and public health effects from their indiscriminate disposal. This study aimed at comparative analyses of the physicochemical and heavy metal constituents and potential DNA damage by wastewaters from natural and artificial fishponds using Allium cepa assay. A. cepa were grown on 3.13, 6.25, 12.5, 25.0, and 50.0% (v/v; wastewater/tap water) concentrations of each wastewater. At 48 and 72 h, respectively, genotoxic and root growth inhibition analyses were carried out on the exposed onions. The onion root tips exposed to wastewaters showed a significant (P < 0.05) inhibition of root growth and cell division in a concentration-dependent manner. Additionally, chromosomal abnormalities like spindle disturbances, sticky chromosomes, micronucleus, bridges, and binucleated cells were observed in the exposed onions and their induction was higher significantly relative to the negative control. Generally, wastewater from the natural fishpond caused higher chromosomal aberrations than the wastewater from artificial fishpond. It is our belief that the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity observed in the onions were primarily caused by heavy metals like Cr, Cd, Fe, Pb, Cu, and Zn found in the wastewaters. These metals also showed a significant carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks in children and adults with Cd as the highest contributor to these detrimental risks. Ingestion route was the major exposure route to the toxic metals in these wastewaters. Wastewater from the natural fishpond showed a higher health risk than the wastewater from the artificial fishpond. These findings suggest that the wastewaters from natural and artificial fishpond contain compounds that might induce cytogenotoxicity in exposed organisms.

Soil pollution by heavy metals can cause continuing damage to ecosystems and the human body. In this study, we collected nine fresh topsoil samples and 18 maize samples (including nine leaf samples and nine corn samples) from agricultural soils in the Baiyin mining areas. The results showed that the order of heavy metal concentrations (mg/kg) in agricultural soils was as follows: Zn (377.40) > Pb (125.06) > Cu (75.06) > Ni (28.29) > Cd (5.46) > Hg (0.37). Cd, Cu, Zn, and Pb exceeded the Chinese risk limit for agricultural soil pollution. The average the pollution load index (4.39) was greater than 3, indicating a heavy contamination level. The element that contributed the most to contamination and high ecological risk in soil was Cd. Principal component analysis (PCA) and Pearson's correlation analysis indicated that the sources of Ni, Cd, Cu, and Zn in the soil were primarily mixed, involving both industrial and agricultural activities, whereas the sources of Hg and Pb included both industrial and transportation activities. Adults and children are not likely to experience non-carcinogenic impacts from the soil in this region. Nonetheless, it was important to be aware of the elevated cancer risk presented by Cd, Pb, and especially Ni. The exceedance rates of Cd and Pb in corn were 66.67% and 33.3%, respectively. The results of this research provide data to improve soil protection, human health monitoring, and crop management in the Baiyin district.