Benzophenone-3 Research Articles

Sequential biological and solar photocatalytic treatment system for greywater treatment.

In this study, sequencing batch reactor (SBR) using anaerobic/aerobic/anoxic process was coupled to a solar photocatalytic reactor (SPCR) for greywater treatment. The greywater effluent from SBR (operated at the optimal condition: 6.8 h hydraulic retention time (HRT), 0.7 Volumetric exchange ratio (VER) and 7.94 d solids retention time (SRT) with optimal corn cob adsorbent dosage (0.5 g/L)) was fed to the SPCR (operated at optimal conditions: pH - 3, H2O2 dosage - 1 g/L, catalyst dosage - 5 g/L). Chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal of 92.8±0.5% and ∼100% were achieved in SBR and SBR-SPCR, respectively. Similarly, total organic carbon (TOC) removal of 91±0.9% and ∼100% were observed in SBR and SBR-SPCR, respectively. After SBR treatment, average total nitrogen (TN) removal of 84% was found and this TN removal increased to 93% after combined SBR-SPCR treatment. The maximum PO43-_P reduction of 80±1.5% % was achieved with SBR-adsorption system. In addition, a maximum of 87±0.9% of net PO43-_P removal was reached after SBR-SPCR treatment. 58.9±2.3% BP (benzophenone-3) removal was obtained in the SBR while the integration of SBR and SPCR treatment was resulted in 100% BP removal. An effective anionic surfactant (AS) removal rate (80.1±2.2%) was observed in the SBR phase, which further improved to 94.9±1% at the end of 4 h SPCR treatment.

The potential role of betaine in enhancement of microbial-assisted phytoremediation of benzophenone-3 contaminated soil

Benzophenone-3 (BP-3) is an emerging environmental pollutant used in personal care products, helping to reduce the risk of ultraviolet radiation to human skin. The BP-3 removal potential from soil by tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) assisted with Methylophilus sp. FP-6 was explored in our previous study. However, the reduced BP-3 remediation efficiency by FP-6 in soil and the inhibited plant growth by BP-3 limited the application of this phytoremediation strategy. The aim of the present study was to reveal the potential roles of betaine, as the methyl donor of methylotrophic bacteria and plant regulator, in improving the strain FP-6-assisted phytoremediation capacity of BP-3 contaminated soil. The results revealed that strain FP-6 could use betaine as a co-metabolism substrate to enhance the BP-3 degradation activity. About 97.32% BP-3 in soil was effectively removed in the phytoremediation system using tobacco in combination with FP-6 and betaine for 40 d while the concentration of BP-3 in tobacco significantly reduced. Moreover, the biomass and photosynthetic efficiency of plants were remarkably improved through the combined treatment of betaine and strain FP-6. Simultaneously, inoculation of FP-6 in the presence of betaine stimulated the change of local microbial community structure, which might correlate with the production of a series of hydrolases and reductases involved in soil carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus cycling processes. Meantime, some of the dominant bacteria could secrete various multiple enzymes involved in degrading organic pollutants, such as laccase, to accelerate the demethylation and hydroxylation of BP-3. Overall, the results from this study proposed that the co-metabolic role of betaine could be utilized to strengthen microbial-assisted phytoremediation process by increasing the degradation ability of methylotrophic bacteria and enhancing plant tolerance to BP-3. The present results provide novel insights and perspectives for broadening the engineering application scope of microbial-assisted phytoremediation of organic pollutants without sacrificing economic crop safety.

UV-filters in marine environments: a review of research trends, meta-analysis, and ecotoxicological impacts of 4-methylbenzylidene-camphor and benzophenone-3 on marine invertebrate communities.

The potential adverse effects of UV-filter pollution in marine environments have been the focus of research in recent years. This systematic review aims to determine the extent of this emerging problem, both quantitatively and qualitatively, combining temporal and science mapping analyses to explore the development of the field of UV-filters in the marine environment (from 1990 to 2021), and to outline new research frontiers. The temporal trend analysis revealed an exponential growth of published studies over the last decade (70% since 2016), confirming the emerging role of this topic in environmental science. The meta-analysis determined that 4-methylbenzylidene-camphor (4-MBC)and benzophenone-3(BP-3) are top-priority environmental pollutants due to their increasing usage and, in turn, a frequent occurrence in marine ecosystems. This meta-analysis determined the focus on these two contaminants for this review. A critical discussion of the applications, regulatory aspects, and environmental occurrences of these selectedcompounds was provided. The present study also focused on the most recent (2015-2021) field and laboratory studies investigating the ecotoxicological impactsof 4-MBC and BP-3 on marine invertebrates. This review highlights the need for moreresearch efforts to fill the knowledge gaps on the realistic effects these compounds may have when considered individually, in combination, or as subsequent exposures. Overall, this review aims to establish guidelines for further studies to understand the effect of UV-filters on marine ecosystems and marine invertebrate communities.

Spectroelectrochemistry as a new tool for the quantification of UV filters in sun creams

This study focuses on the spectroelectrochemical quantification of four UV filters, butylmethoxy dibenzoylmethane (BM), benzophenone-3 (BP3), ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (EM) and octocrylene (OC) used as sunscreens in cosmetics. Three of them exhibited electrochemical activity resulting in the modification of their absorption spectrum under the application of an oxidizing potential of +1.8 V vs. Ag. When working with a mixture containing both electroactive and nonelectroactive UV filters, UV–vis absorption spectra recorded before and after the application of the potential differed. The combination of spectral deconvolution of the spectra pair allowed a more accurate identification and quantification of UV filters than spectral deconvolution of the initial absorbance spectrum alone. This method was effective for the assessment of UV filters in model mixtures and commercial sun creams.

Chemometric Optimization of Solid-Phase Extraction Followed by Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry and Probabilistic Risk Assessment of Ultraviolet Filters in an Urban Recreational Lake

Solid-phase extraction (SPE) of eleven ultraviolet filters (UVFs): benzophenone-1 (BP-1); benzophenone-3 (BP-3); benzophenone-4 (BP-4); isoamyl p-methoxycinnamate (IAMC), homosalate (HMS); 4-hydroxybenzophenone (4-HB); 4-methylbenzylidene camphor (4-MBC); octocrylene (OC); octyl dimethyl-p-aminobenzoate (OD-PABA); 2-ethylhexyl-4-methoxycinnamate (EHMC); and avobenzone (AVO), has been optimized using Plackett-Burman design, Box-Behnken design, and Derrindzer desirability function. Of the six SPE variables studied, the most influencing is the type of eluent followed by pH and the methanol content in the rinsing solvent. A method with good analytical performance was obtained by applying optimal SPE conditions and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), with the method detection limit ranging from 0.1 to 5 ng/L, recovery from 44% to 99%, and relative standard deviation (RSD) within 19%. This method was used to analyze the content of UVFs in an urban lake (Sava Lake, Serbia). UVFs occurrence, geostatistical distribution, and associated environmental risk are highly dependent on recreational activities. The average concentrations of UVFs ranged from 0.3 to 113 ng/L, and the most present substance was EHMC, followed by 4-MBC and BP-3. The spatial distribution of the risk quotient (RQ = 0.04–1.7) inside the lake is highly correlated with the number of people bathing and swimming. Human exposure through the dermal pathway is higher than ingestion for most UVFs. Monte Carlo simulation of probabilistic risk assessment estimated the percentile P10, P50, P90 of 12.7; 17.3; 47.5 and 20.1; 27.6; 77.5 ng/kg∙day for total human exposure of adults and children, respectively. The sensitivity analysis revealed that the health risk estimate depends mostly on the content of EHMC, HMS, and 4-MBC, while the most influential exposure variables were human body weight and skin surface area. There is no serious concern to human health due to UVFs in the short term; however, a high ecological risk in some parts of the lake is estimated.

Associations between concentrations of typical ultraviolet filter benzophenones in indoor dust and human hair from China: A human exposure study

Benzophenone-3 (BP-3) has been widely used as a typical ultraviolet (UV) filter in various personal care products. While BP-3 and its derivatives (BPs) have been detected in various environmental matrices, very little is known about the concentration profile of BPs in human hair. The associations of BPs in human hair with those in indoor dust samples collected from the same locations remain largely unclear. In this study, a total of 258 indoor dust samples and 66 human hair samples were collected across China and analyzed to determine the presence of BP-3 and its derivatives. The BP-3 concentrations ranged from 0.386 to 1230 ng/g dw in indoor dust and from 0.149 to 696 ng/g dw in human hair. No difference was found between BPs in indoor dust samples from different geographic regions (p > 0.05), whereas relatively higher BP concentrations were observed for dust from urban regions than dust from rural ones (p < 0.05). A positive correlation was found between the BP-3 concentrations of indoor dust and human hair samples (p < 0.05). The estimated daily intake (EDI) of BPs for humans from indoor dust showed a gender difference (females > males; p < 0.05), with the highest EDI value being found in Southwest China (males: 35.5 pg/kg bw/day; females: 40.6 pg/kg bw/day). This study provides the concentration profiles of BPs in human hair and elucidates the associations between the BP concentrations in indoor dust samples and human hair samples collected across China.

In Vivo Bioconcentration, Distribution and Metabolization of Benzophenone-3 (BP-3) by Cyprinus carpio (European Carp).

Organic UV-filters, such as oxybenzone (BP-3), have attracted researcher attention in recent years due to its capacity to interfere with the proper functioning of the endocrine system and its widespread presence in the aquatic environment. The aim of this study was to investigate the bioconcentration, distribution and metabolization of BP-3 in one of the most common fish species in Romania, namely Cyprinus carp (European carp). Exposure experiments were performed for 11 weeks using a BP-3 nominal concentration level of 100 µg/L. The BP-3 concentration level decreased over time and needed to be re-established daily. Biological samples (fish organs and tissues) from control and test were taken at t0 (before contamination) and at t3, t5, t8 and t11 weeks from the beginning of the experiment. From the third week, BP-3 was identified and quantified, in all organs, in concentration values ranging between 3.2 and 782 ng/g d.w., the highest concentration being detected in the intestinal content, followed by gonads (up to 468 ng/g d.w.) and skin (up to 453 ng/g d.w.). In the case of gill and liver, the BP-3 concentration increased in the first five weeks, and then decreased to 15 and 6 ng/g d.w., respectively, which could be explained by a fast BP-3 metabolization. During the exposure period, six metabolites were identified through LC-MS/MS, all of them known for their endocrine disruptor and toxic properties being higher than those of the parent compound. The study is important from an ecological perspective and also in view of human health concerns involving food quality.

Towards the Development of Standardized Bioassays for Corals: Acute Toxicity of the UV Filter Benzophenone-3 to Scleractinian Coral Larvae.

Coral reefs have been declining globally at a historically unprecedented rate. Ultraviolet (UV) filters used in sunscreens may contribute to this decline at local scales, which has already led to bans on various organic UV filters in some regions. However, the underlying studies for these bans demonstrated significant flaws in the experimental design due to a lack of validated and standardized testing methods for corals. This study aimed to investigate options for the development of a standard acute toxicity test for the larval stage of scleractinian corals. Planula larvae of two brooding (Leptastrea purpurea and Tubastraea faulkneri) and two spawning (Acropora digitifera and A. millepora) species were exposed to the organic UV filter benzophenone-3 (BP3) for 48 h under static conditions. We observed interspecific variations in toxicity, with A. digitifera being the most sensitive (LC50 = 0.75 µg L−1) and T. faulkneri the least sensitive (LC50 = 2951.24 µg L−1) species. Inhibition of settlement was found to be a useful endpoint leading to an EC50 of 1.84 µg L−1 in L. purpurea larvae. Although the analytical challenges of measuring lipophilic substances in small volume test setups remain, the here applied test design and selected endpoints are suitable for further validation and subsequent standardization.

Greywater treatment in SBR-SND reactor - optimization of hydraulic retention time, volumetric exchange ratio and sludge retention time

ABSTRACT In this study, simultaneous nitrification and denitrification-sequencing batch reactor (SND-SBR) process was investigated to treat greywater. The effect of three process parameters, including hydraulic retention time (HRT), volumetric exchange ratio (VER) and sludge retention time (SRT), was optimised using a 23 full factorial design. The statistic model was developed for two response variables, i.e. chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonia (NH3-N) removal. The optimum conditions were 6.8 h HRT (anaerobic/aerobic/anoxic: 1.77 h/2.77 h/2.27 h), 0.7 VER and 7.94 d SRT, which resulted in 93.9% COD and 84.6% NH3-N removal efficiency. SRT was the most significant factor, followed by HRT and VER for COD and NH3-N removal. The interaction effect of VER and SRT was significant in COD removal. On the other hand, the interaction effects of HRT-VER and HRT-SRT were significant in NH3-N removal. The removal efficiencies of 89.6 ± 1.1% and 83.7 ± 2.3% were observed for TKN and TN, respectively, in the optimised SND-SBR system. NH3-N removal was obtained via nitrate pathway in the SND-SBR system. The PO4 3--P removal of 74.2 ± 3.4% was obtained via aerobic phosphorus uptake and post anoxic denitrification at the optimal condition. To enhance PO4 3--P removal, adsorption (using corn cob adsorbent) was integrated with SBR by adding the optimum adsorbent dose (0.5 g/L). The PO4 3--P removal efficiency in the SBR-adsorption system was found to be 80 ± 1.5%. The biodegradation of emerging contaminants (ECs) was also carried out in the SND-SBR system, and the results showed removal rate of 58.9 ± 2.3% benzophenone-3 (BP) and 80.1 ± 2.2% anionic surfactant (AS).

Benzoresorcinol induces developmental neurotoxicity and injures exploratory, learning and memorizing abilities in zebrafish

Benzophenones (BPs) are a class of UV absorber commonly used in skin care products like sunscreens. With its wide range of application, its environmental and human hazards have received much attention in recent days. Previous studies on the toxicity of BPs mainly focused on its endocrine-disrupting effects, but there are limited studies on its neurodevelopment and neurotoxicity. Herein, using the zebrafish model we studied the neurodevelopmental- and neuro-toxicity of benzophenone 1 (BP1) (0.8, 1.0, 1.2, 1.6, and 2.4 μg/mL). As a result, BP1 led to an increase of embryo mortality, a decrease in hatching rate, and an increase in the rate of developmental abnormalities in a concentration-dependent manner. BP1 also caused developmental defects in the central nervous system (CNS) and dopaminergic (DA) neurons. Accordingly, BP1 injured larval zebrafish general locomotion and response to stimuli in light/dark challenge. In adult zebrafish, BP1 exposure (1, 10, 100, 1000 μg/L) caused inhibition of learning and memory abilities in the T-maze tests, and inhibited exploratory behavior and activity in the novel tank diving tests. Further, transcription levels of genes related to neurotoxicity, neurodevelopment, and anxiety revealed that BP1 may affect the development and function of the myelin sheath, inducing structural and functional defects of CNS, manifested as abnormal behaviors such as anxiety. Hence, the current study revealed the neurodevelopmental toxicity and neurotoxicity of BP1, expanded our knowledge about the toxic effects of BP1 on organisms, posing a possible threat to the environment and human health.

The Association between Sex Hormones, Pubertal Milestones and Benzophenone-3 Exposure, Measured by Urinary Biomarker or Questionnaire

ABSTRACT Experimental studies have suggested benzophenone-3 (BP-3), a sunscreen ingredient, may have endocrine-disrupting properties. A cohort of girls were recruited at ages 6–7 years and returned semi-annually for pubertal maturation staging, provided blood for serum hormone analyses [estradiol, estrone, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S)], and urine to measure BP-3 concentrations. We found a significant negative linear association between amount of reported sunscreen use and testosterone levels at the onset of puberty (N = 157, adjusted β = −0.0163, 97.5% CI:-0.0300,-0.0026). The 2nd quartile of the BP-3 biomarker had earlier thelarche compared to the 1st quartile (N = 282, adjusted HR = 1.584, 97.5% CI:1.038,2.415). Results suggest that higher report of sunscreen use may be associated with lower testosterone levels at thelarche and a non-linear relationship between the BP-3 urinary biomarker and onset of puberty, although the clinical significance of the finding is limited and may be a random effect. Improved methods of BP-3 exposure characterization are needed.

Enhanced photocatalytic activity of novel \u03b1-Bi2O3@g-C3N4 composites for the degradation of endocrine-disrupting benzophenone-3 in water under visible light

The commonly used benzophenone-3 (BP-3) as ultraviolet filter ingredients is an endocrine-disrupting chemical that has received particular attention owing to its environmental ubiquity, and it poses a threat to aquatic biota and human health. In this study, novel α-Bi2O3@g-C3N4 nanocomposites with different α-Bi2O3 contents and enhanced photocatalytic activity were synthesized by a mixing calcination method. The as-synthesized photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, N2 adsorption/desorption isotherm analysis, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The 1 wt% α-Bi2O3@g-C3N4 composite exhibited the highest rate constant of 0.42 h-1 for photocatalytic degradation of BP-3, which was up to 6.3 times higher than that of g-C3N4 (0.07 h-1). The enhanced photocatalytic activity might be due to the enhanced separation of photogenerated electron-hole (e--h+) charge pairs and suppression of e--h+ recombination. Scavenging experiments suggested that •OH, h+ and •O2- worked together in the α-Bi2O3@g-C3N4 photocatalytic process. The EPR spectra demonstrated that the α-Bi2O3@g-C3N4 composites generated considerably more •O2- and •OH than g-C3N4. Finally, cyclic degradation experiments showed the reusability of 1 wt% α-Bi2O3@g-C3N4 for BP-3 removal.

Tobacco-associated with Methylophilus sp. FP-6 enhances phytoremediation of benzophenone-3 through regulating soil microbial community, increasing photosynthetic capacity and maintaining redox homeostasis of plant

Benzophenone-3 (BP-3) has attracted widespread attention due to its large accumulation in the environment and its potential toxicity effects to human. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the combined application of tobacco and Methylophilus sp. strain FP-6 with both plant growth promoting (PGP) traits and BP-3 degradation function on BP-3 remediation in soil. The results showed that about 79.18% of BP-3 was removed from the soil after 30 days of plant culture inoculated with the FP-6 strain, which was significantly higher than the plant-alone treatment. Simultaneously, inoculation with strain FP-6 significantly improved growth performance, biomass production, antioxidant levels, osmoregulation substance, photosynthetic capacity and chlorophyll accumulation in tobacco. Moreover, the application of FP-6 shifted the bacterial community, and enhanced the abundance of BP-3-degrading or soil nutrient cycling-affecting bacteria (e.g., Chloroflexi, Bryobacter, MND1 and Myxococcales), which might be valuable for the promotion of plant growth and degradation of BP-3 in the soil. The results from this study gave first insights into the enhancement of BP-3 removal efficiency from soil by phytoremediation assisted with bacteria possessing both PGP properties and BP-3 degradation function. The role of soil bacterial community in this remediation process was also discussed.

A metabolomic study on the effect of prenatal exposure to Benzophenone-3 on spontaneous fetal loss in mice

Benzophenone-3 (BP-3) is widely used in a variety of cosmetics and is prevalent in drinking water or food, and women were under notable high exposure burden of BP-3. Reports show the associations between prenatal exposure to BP-3 and the risk of fetal loss, but its underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. Pregnant ICR mice were gavaged with BP-3 from gestational day (GD) 0 to GD 6 at doses of 0.1, 10 and 1000 mg/kg/day. The samples were collected on GD 12. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry-based metabolomics was used to detect metabolome changes in fetal mice, the uterus and the placenta to identify the underlying mechanism. The results showed that the body weight and relative organ weights of the liver, brain and uterus of pregnant mice were not significantly changed between the control group and the treatment group. BP-3 increased fetal loss, and induced placental thrombosis and tissue necrosis with enhancement of platelet aggregation. Metabolomic analysis revealed that fructose and mannose metabolism, the TCA cycle, arginine and proline metabolism in the fetus, arginine and proline metabolism and biotin metabolism in the uterus, and arginine biosynthesis and pyrimidine metabolism in the placenta were the key changed pathways involved in the above changes. Our study indicates that exposure to BP-3 can induce placental thrombosis and fetal loss via the disruption of maternal and fetal metabolism in mice, providing novel insights into the influence of BP-3 toxicity on the female reproductive system.

Using Human Biomonitoring Data to Support Risk Assessment of Cosmetic Ingredients-A Case Study of Benzophenone-3.

Safety assessment of UV filters for human health by the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) is based on the estimation of internal dose following external (skin) application of cosmetic products, and comparison with a toxicological reference value after conversion to internal dose. Data from human biomonitoring (HBM) could be very useful in this regard, because it is based on the measurement of real-life internal exposure of the human population to a chemical. UV filters were included in the priority list of compounds to be addressed under the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU), and risk assessment of benzophenone-3 (BP-3) was carried out based on HBM data. Using BP-3 as an example, this study investigated the benefits and limitations of the use of external versus internal exposure data to explore the usefulness of HBM to support the risk assessment of cosmetic ingredients. The results show that both approaches did indicate a risk to human health under certain levels of exposure. They also highlight the need for more robust exposure data on BP-3 and other cosmetic ingredients, and a standardized framework for incorporating HBM data in the risk assessment of cosmetic products.

Transfer of 7 Organic UV Filters from Sediment to the Ragworm Hediste diversicolor: Bioaccumulation of Benzophenone-3 and Further Proof of Octocrylene Metabolism

Organic UV filters are continuously released in aquatic ecosystems due to their widespread use, especially in touristic coastal environments. Generally, organic UV filters are poorly soluble in water and tend to accumulate in the sediment compartment. This represents a conceivable risk for sediment-dwelling organisms and a potential for transfer of the UV filters up the food chain. This study aimed to assess the potential transfer of seven UV filters including benzophenone-3 (BP3), bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine (BEMT), butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane (BM), methylene bis-benzotriazolyl tetramethylbutylphenol (MBBT), 2-ethylhexyl salicylate (ES), diethylhexyl butamido triazone (DBT), and octocrylene (OC) from artificial spiked sediment (10 µg.g−1 dry weight) to sediment-dwelling worms. All UV filters were detected in the worms after 28 days of exposure, but only BP3 was apparently bioaccumulated, with a biota sediment accumulation factor (BSAF) of 12.38 ± 4.65. However, metabolomic profiling revealed that OC was metabolized by the worms into 11 fatty acid conjugates, demonstrating that OC did also accumulate in the worms in the form of OC–fatty acid conjugates. Here, the sole quantification of the parent organic UV filter underestimated the accumulation factor and the exposure of organisms. In general, it is therefore important to pair the conventional method (BSAF calculus) with other techniques, such as metabolomics, to assess the actual potential for bioaccumulation of xenobiotics including transformed xenobiotics.

Elucidating the biodegradation pathway and catabolic genes of benzophenone-3 in Rhodococcus sp. S2-17

A new bacterium, Rhodococcus sp. S2-17, which could completely degrade an emerging organic pollutant, benzophenone-3 (BP-3), was isolated from contaminated sediment through an enrichment procedure, and its BP-3 catabolic pathway and genes were identified through metabolic intermediate and transcriptomic analyses and biochemical and genetic studies. Metabolic intermediate analysis suggested that strain S2-17 may degrade BP-3 using a catabolic pathway progressing via the intermediates BP-1, 2,4,5-trihydroxy-benzophenone, 3-hydroxy-4-benzoyl-2,4-hexadienedioic acid, 4-benzoyl-3-oxoadipic acid, 3-oxoadipic acid, and benzoic acid. A putative BP-3 catabolic gene cluster including cytochrome P450, flavin-dependent oxidoreductase, hydroxyquinol 1,2-dioxygenase, maleylacetate reductase, and α/β hydrolase genes was identified through genomic and transcriptomic analyses. Genes encoding the cytochrome P450 complex that demethylates BP-3 to BP-1 were functionally verified through protein expression, and the functions of the other genes were also verified through knockout mutant construction and intermediate analysis. This study suggested that strain S2-17 might have acquired the ability to catabolize BP-3 by recruiting the cytochrome P450 complex and α/β hydrolase, which hydrolyzes 4-benzoyl-3-oxoadipic acid to benzoic acid and 3-oxoadipic acid, genes, providing insights into the recruitment of genes of for the catabolism of emerging organic pollutants.

Complete Genome Sequence and Benzophenone-3 Mineralisation Potential of Rhodococcus sp. USK10, A Bacterium Isolated from Riverbank Sediment

Benzophenone-3 (BP3) is an organic UV filter whose presence in the aquatic environment has been linked to detrimental developmental impacts in aquatic organisms such as coral and fish. The genus Rhodococcus has been extensively studied and is known for possessing large genomes housing genes for biodegradation of a wide range of compounds, including aromatic carbons. Here, we present the genome sequence of Rhodococcus sp. USK10, which was isolated from Chinese riverbank sediment and is capable of utilising BP3 as the sole carbon source, resulting in full BP3 mineralisation. The genome consisted of 9,870,030 bp in 3 replicons, a G+C content of 67.2%, and 9722 coding DNA sequences (CDSs). Annotation of the genome revealed that 179 of these CDSs are involved in the metabolism of aromatic carbons. The complete genome of Rhodococcus sp. USK10 is the first complete, annotated genome sequence of a Benzophenone-3-degrading bacterium. Through radiolabelling, it is also the first bacterium proven to mineralise Benzophenone-3. Due to the widespread environmental prevalence of Benzophenone-3, coupled with its adverse impact on aquatic organisms, this characterisation provides an integral first step in better understanding the environmentally relevant degradation pathway of the commonly used UV filter. Given USK10′s ability to completely mineralise Benzophenone-3, it could prove to be a suitable candidate for bioremediation application.

Occurrence and environmental hazard of organic UV filters in seawater and wastewater from Gran Canaria Island (Canary Islands, Spain)

Organic ultraviolet (UV) filters are used in personal care products, but they are also added to industrial products and are constantly released to the environment. This study analyses the occurrence of 8 widely used organic UV filters in seawater from three beaches on the Gran Canaria Island (Spain) and in three wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) by taking samples from influents and effluents. It also discusses the target compounds’ post-treatment removal efficiencies. Sampling was carried out for 6 months and analytes were extracted by solid phase extraction with Sep-pak C18 cartridges. They were determined by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry in tandem. The potential environmental hazard associated with the found concentrations was also assessed for marine organisms.Different target compounds were detected on the analysed beaches and in the wastewater. Benzophenone-3 (BP3) was the most recurrent compound in the seawater samples (frequency detection of 83%) and also in wastewater influents and effluents (measured in all the samples). However, the highest concentrations for seawater (172 μg L−1) and influent wastewater (208 μg L−1) corresponded to octocrylene, while methylene bis-benzotriazolyltetramethylbutylphenol was the compound most concentrated in secondary treatment effluent (34.0 μg L−1) and BP3 in tertiary treatment effluent (8.07 μg L−1). All the analysed samples showed that at least one target UV filter was present.Regarding the removal efficiencies of these compounds in the studied WWTPs, consistent differences between the target compounds were observed in influent concentration terms, where the average removal rates were higher than 50% for most of the compounds. Conventional treatment is unable to completely remove many studied compounds, while tertiary treatment acts as an additional elimination for some of them.An environmental hazard quotient above 1 was found for octocrylene, benzophenone-3 and 4-methylbenzylidene camphor, which indicates a potential high hazard for living species if these compounds are present.

Urinary phenols and parabens in relation to hearing loss: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

The animal studies raise concerns about the possible ototoxicity of phenolic chemicals. Therefore, we conducted an epidemiologic study to examine the associations of phenols and parabens with hearing impairment. Bisphenol A (BPA), benzophenone-3 (BP-3), and triclosan (TCS) were measured in urine samples in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-06 and 2009-12. Methyl paraben (MPB) and propyl paraben (PPB) were measured in urine samples in NHANES 2005-06 and 2009-12. Hearing impairment was defined as a hearing threshold of more than 25dB at each hearing frequency in the better ear. Tests for linear trend were conducted using the median concentrations of urinary phenols or parabens in each quartile as a continuous variable. A total of 1809 participants (women = 52.0%) aged 20 and above were included in the final analysis (For MPB and PPB, the sample size was 1188). After adjusting for potential confounders, we found positive associations between BPA and hearing impairment at 3K (p-trend = 0.04); between TCS and hearing impairment at 6K (p-trend = 0.03); However, the odds ratio (OR) for the highest compared with the lowest quartile of both BPA and TCS did not reach statistical significance. In contrast, we found unexpected negative associations between BP-3 and hearing impairment at 0.5K (p-trend = 0.04), 1K (p-trend = 0.02), 2K (p-trend <0.01), 6K (p-trend = 0.03), and 8KHz (p-trend = 0.02), respectively. The present study offers limited evidence that background phenol and paraben exposures are ototoxicants for the United States adult population. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40201-021-00779-7.