Geology topics

Wenhui Qiu

Publications and source records attributed to Wenhui Qiu.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS2025

Risks of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance exposure through marine fish consumption

Global food trade expansion has enriched diets worldwide but also heightened concerns about contaminant spread. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) can persist in the environment for decades, yet their risks through food trade remain unclear. The global median estimated daily intake (EDI) of C8-PFAS (perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonate) (0.023 nanograms per kilograms per day) was mapped from 212 marine fish species, which indicated higher EDIs in North America, Oceania, and Europe. Furthermore, European countries play a pivotal role in C8-PFAS trade flows, markedly reshaping exposure pathways and driving increased exposure in many nations. These dynamics highlight the importance of establishing food-safety regulations and international trade standards. Although perfluorooctane sulfonate hazard index decreased by 72% after its 2009 regulations, unregulated long-chain PFAS continue to pose elevated risks.

Science↗

USGS2025

Tetrabromobisphenol S (TBBPS) causes non-negligible and multigenerational reproductive toxicity in zebrafish

Tetrabromobisphenol S (TBBPS) is one of the most extensively used brominated flame retardants detected in the environment. Despite its widespread presence, the effects of persistent environmental exposure to TBBPS on the reproductive system remain unclear, raising significant health concerns. Here, using the zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) model, we identified significant intergenerational endocrine disruption and reproductive toxicity induced by TBBPS after a life-cycle (150 days) of parental exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of TBBPS (0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 μg/L). TBBPS interfered with hormone levels and the expression of genes within the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis in both F0 males and females, leading to reduced embryo quality. The parental transmission of TBBPS also impacted the endocrine and reproductive systems of the F1 fish, including the increase of gonadotropin-releasing hormone 3 neuron numbers, changes in hormone levels, and a decrease in embryo numbers. F2 fish also displayed endocrine disruption, even in the absence of detectable TBBPS residues, evidenced by altered fertilization rates and vitellogenin levels. Together, our findings show that exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of TBBPS can induce reproductive toxicity that persists across generations, weakening the endocrine system and early growth in offspring by disrupting the HPG axis. These data provide critical insight into the persistent health risks posed by TBBPS.

Environmental Science & Technology↗

USGS2025

Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) disrupts immune regulation via the toll-like receptor signaling pathway in zebrafish

As there are a growing number of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) alternative substitutes applied globally, it remains paramount to characterize their potential health risks. Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) is the most common alternative PFAS detected in the environment; however, its toxic effects and underlying mechanism of action to aquatic biota remains unclear. In this study, we present in vitro evidence of PFDA-induced immunotoxicity and gain insight into underlying molecular mechanisms. PFDA induced immune dysfunction in zebrafish primarily through immunosuppression, apoptosis, and inflammatory response which further cascaded to suppress innate and adaptive immunities, ultimately weaking the ability of larvae to defend against pathogenic infection. PFDA-induced immunotoxicity was driven by a dysregulation in the toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway, which was validated through a cotreatment of PFDA with either a morpholino knockdown or inhibitor of myeloid differentiation factor 88. Comparative toxicity studies were carried out with a subset of other alternative PFAS (PFBA, PFOA, PFNA) and it was found that PFDA posed a greater immunotoxic response than other commonly identified PFAS in the environment. This work identified a major target of PFDA, disrupting immune function through the TLR signaling pathway, while inducing a greater toxic response among other tested PFAS, which provides novel insights into understanding the potential environmental risks of PFAS substitutes.

Environmental Science & Technology↗

USGS2025

Perfluorodecanesulfonate (PFDS) induces innate immune toxicity through the NF-κB pathway in early life stage zebrafish

Perfluorodecanesulfonate (PFDS), a long-chain polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS), is widely detected in aquatic environments and increasingly recognized for its environmental persistence and bioaccumulative potential; however, its immunotoxicity remains poorly understood in aquatic biota. In this study, early life stage zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) were exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of PFDS and PFOS for 120 h to better characterize the adverse effects of PFDS on aquatic organisms. Additionally, the toxicological differences between PFDS and PFOS at the same exposure concentrations were compared, as PFDS is a known substitute for PFOS. PFDS bioaccumulated in zebrafish larvae at environmentally relevant concentrations, which disrupted immune function by altering the number of macrophages and neutrophils, inducing oxidative stress, and dysregulating immune markers such as interleukins and immunoglobulins. Mechanistically, PFDS activated the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway, driving pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and immune dysfunction. Furthermore, the use of a NF-κB morpholino knockdown confirmed the role of the NF-κB pathway in mediating PFDS-induced immunotoxicity. These findings provide the first comprehensive evidence of PFDS-induced immunotoxicity being mediated through NF-κB activation, offering novel insights into the ecological risks of long-chain perfluorosulfonic acids. Notably, PFDS exhibited a stronger immunotoxic response relative to PFOS, indicating that its adverse effects may be more severe. Overall, these findings provide valuable insights for the ecological risk assessment of PFDS and the toxic potential that unregulated PFAS can have to aquatic systems.

Environment International↗

USGS2025

Incidence of pollution, bioaccumulation, biomagnification, and toxic effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in aquatic ecosystems: A review

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistently accumulated in both environmental media and biological systems, leading to significant toxicological effects. Although research on PFAS has expanded in recent years, systematic reviews on its concentration distribution in aquatic environments and biota, as well as its toxicological effects, remain scarce. Moreover, existing literature lacks systematic analyses of diverse aquatic environments and organisms. This review investigates the contamination levels of PFAS in aquatic environments. It also provides a systematic analysis of bioaccumulation in planktonic, swimming, and benthic organisms, including bioaccumulation factors (BAF), biomagnification factors (BMF), trophic magnification factors (TMF), and biota-sediment accumulation factors (BSAF), and evaluates the potential toxic effects on aquatic ecosystems. This study aims to provide theoretical support for the environmental regulation and management of PFAS. Additionally, it seeks to offer data references and potential research directions for future studies, thereby promoting the advancement of PFAS-related research and policy development.

Aquatic Toxicology↗

USGS2025

High-throughput screening identifies bisphenol P as a potent cardiotoxin, inducing cardiotoxicity through apoptosis and NF-κB Pathway

The increasing use of plastic additives, particularly bisphenols (BPs), has raised significant concerns about their potential risks to human health, especially during critical developmental stages. In this study, we developed a novel high-throughput toxicity screening platform using zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) to identify and prioritize chemicals with cardiotoxic potential, which is based on multidimensional exposure pathways ranging from environmental to human levels. The platform quantitatively assesses heart rate changes based on multilevel exposure pathways (environmental, ecological, and human), effectively prioritizing the most relevant cardiotoxic compounds with potential health risks. Using this platform, we identified bisphenol P (BPP), a widely used substitute for bisphenol A, as a potent cardiotoxic compound. BPP exposure significantly inhibited heart development and function in zebrafish, inducing abnormal heart morphology, reduced heart rate, cardiac output, and hemodynamic disturbances. Additionally, NF-κB signaling pathway analysis, including morpholino knock-down and inhibitor experiments, confirmed that BPP mediates cardiac toxicity by inducing cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Our findings underscore the toxicity that BP substitutes can have, while highlighting the potential of this multidimensional screening platform in evaluating cardiovascular toxicity and guiding future toxicological assessments during critical developmental windows.

Environmental Science & Technology↗

USGS2025

Abundance of microplastics in a typical urban wetland in China: Association with occurrence and carbon storage

Microplastics (MPs) are gaining attention for their widespread presence and toxicity in ecosystems. However, their role as a carbon source in urban wetland carbon sinks is still unclear. In this study, the microplastic-carbon (MP-C) was firstly quantified based on the abundance and occurrence characteristics, including MP morphology, size and type in the Sanyang Wetland, a typical urban wetland of China. MP abundances ranged from 2.4 ± 0.6–14.9 ± 1.5 items/L in surface water and 6.6 ± 1.2 × 10 3 to 46.3 ± 5.9 × 10 3 items/kg in sediment. The predominant morphological characterization of MPs was fragments smaller than 200 μm in size, consisting of PP, PE, and PET, which suggests that the main source was domestic wastewater discharge nearby. Notably, in the Sanyang wetland, the contribution of MP-C to total organic carbon (TOC) was estimated to be 0.023 0.20 % in water and 0.026 0.28 % in sediment. With the continuous production of plastics globally, these values were predicted to increase to 0.12 0.71 % and 0.83 4.12 % by 2100, respectively. Although the estimations relied on simplified geometric assumptions for MP volume and theoretical carbon content, these approaches provide a reasonable basis for understanding MP-C dynamics in wetlands under current analytical constraints. The integration of MP-C characterization during environmental monitoring and management strategies would enhance our understanding of MP pollution's role in the carbon cycle.

Journal of Hazardous Materials↗

USGS2025

Exposure of infants to antibiotics via cord blood, breast milk, and formula: A review on exposure level, temporal variation, and risk assessment

The pervasive use of antibiotics across various sectors, including agriculture, medicine, and aquaculture, has led to a notable increase in environmental antibiotic residues. This phenomenon has raised significant public concern regarding the potential health risks antibiotics may pose, particularly to vulnerable populations such as infants. However, the conceptualization of exposure routes of antibiotics to infants and the associated health risks has not been conducted. This review summarized three main pathways infants are exposed to antibiotics, including umbilical cord blood, breast milk, and infant formula. Antibiotic exposure levels in infants were synthesized, examining spatial and temporal trends in antibiotic concentrations across different media through clinical testing. We also analyzed the doses of antibiotics consumed by infants over time through breast milk and formula, evaluating the associated risks. Furthermore, we explored the potential adverse effects of early-life antibiotic exposure on the infant gut microbiota, physical development, and multiple organ systems. Given the global significance of antibiotic distribution, it is pertinent to comprehensively monitor antibiotic concentrations in infants and conduct longitudinal follow-up studies on their growth and development, accurately quantifying and assessing the impacts on fetal and infant health.

Journal of Hazardous Materials↗

USGS2024

A universal method for the simultaneous determination of environmental pollutants in marine biological samples: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and antibiotics as a case study

Conventional detection technologies for environmental contaminants have primarily focused on providing accurate qualitative and quantitative evaluations for single pollutant types, leading to increased costs and an inability to satisfy the growing demand for detecting a broader spectrum of pollutants. Here, we introduced a novel analytical method to simultaneously measure the concentration levels of diverse environmental pollutants, characterized by their distinct properties, across complex biological samples. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and antibiotics were used as a case study due to their frequency of detection in the environment and known impacts Our method harnesses the salting-out effect of sodium chloride on proteins within the muscle tissues of 178 marine species, which significantly reduces the addition of extraneous substances, mitigates matrix interference, and avoids reliance on solid-phase extraction or dispersive extraction agents. The method provides a simultaneous pretreatment for the detection of several compounds, with detection limits from 0.002 to 0.41 ng/g dry weight, which are substantially lower than conventional methods. Overall, this method streamlines efficiency, decreases costs, lessens matrix effects, and sets a solid groundwork for future applications in the concurrent detection of a broader spectrum of environmentally pertinent pollutants with varied characteristics.

ACS ES&T Water↗

USGS2024

Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) induces hepatotoxicity through the PPAR signaling pathway in larval zebrafish (Danio rerio)

In recent years, the industrial substitution of long-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) with short-chain alternatives has become increasingly prevalent, resulting in the widespread environmental detection of perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), a short-chain PFAS. However, there remains limited information about the potential adverse effects of PFHxS at environmental concentrations to wildlife. Here, early life stage zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) were exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of PFHxS to better characterize the adverse effects of PFHxS on aquatic organisms. Nontargeted, transcriptomic analysis revealed potential hepatotoxic effects in exposed larvae, including macrovesicular and microvesicular hepatic steatosis, as well as focal liver necrosis. Morphological, histological, biochemical, and targeted transcript expression profiles further confirmed significant alterations in hepatocellular lesion numbers, liver pathological structures, relative liver size, liver biochemical parameters, and liver function genes. To validate the PPAR-mediated toxicological mechanism identified as an enriched pathway through in silico bioinformatics analysis, we tested the coexposure to an antagonist and PPAR morpholino knockdown. This intervention alleviated PFHxS-induced hepatic effects, including reductions in the levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total cholesterol, and total triglycerides. Our results demonstrate that environmentally relevant concentrations of PFHxS can impair liver development and function in fish, which could have potential risks to aquatic organisms.

Environmental Science & Technology↗

USGS2024

Perfluorooctane sulfonamide induced autotoxic effects on the zebrafish immune system

Perfluorooctane sulfonamide (PFOSA) is an immediate perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) precursor (PreFOS). Previous studies have shown PFOSA to induce stronger toxic responses compared to other perfluorinated compounds (PFCs). However, the specific nature of PFOSA-induced toxicity, whether autonomous or mediated by its metabolite PFOS, has not been fully elucidated. This study systematically investigates the immunomodulatory effects of PFOSA and PFOS in zebrafish ( Danio rerio ). Exposure to PFOSA compromised the zebrafish’s ability to defend against pathogenic infections, as evidenced by increased bacterial adhesion to their skin and reduced levels of the biocidal protein lysozyme (LYSO). Moreover, PFOSA exposure was associated with disruptions in inflammatory markers and immune indicators, along with a decrease in immune cell counts. The findings from this study suggest that the immunotoxicity effects of PFOSA are primarily due to its own toxicity rather than its metabolite PFOS. This conclusion was supported by dose-dependent responses, the severity of observed effects, and multivariate analysis. In addition, our experiments using NF-κB-morpholino knock-down techniques further confirmed the role of the Nuclear factor-κappa B pathway in mediating PFOSA-induced immunotoxicity. In conclusion, this study reveals that PFOSA impairs the immune system in zebrafish through an autotoxic mechanism, providing valuable insights for assessing the ecological risks of PFOSA.

Environmental Science and Technology↗

USGS2024

Immunotoxic response of bio-based plastic on early life stage zebrafish (Danio rerio): A safe alternative to petroleum-based plastics?

Bio-based plastics are marketed as environmentally friendly alternatives to petroleum-based plastics, although they require specific composting conditions for degradation, which leads to their accumulation in the environment and potential risks to aquatic organisms. We hypothesized that the accumulation of bio-based plastics may induce immunotoxic responses in fish. Our research focused on the accumulation and immunotoxicity of 80 nm polylactic acid (PLA) and polystyrene (PS) (0.1–10 mg/L) on early life stage zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) exposed for 7 days. Compared to PS, there was a higher accumulation of PLA in larvae. Exposure to PLA resulted in a significant increase in neutrophils and macrophages, while immune protein levels such as Complement 3 (C3), Immunoglobulin M (IgM), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were significantly reduced. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tnf-α and il-6 , were significantly elevated in PLA treatments. Additionally, PLA-exposed zebrafish were more susceptible to infection by Vibrio parahaemolyticus . Interestingly, at the same concentration, exposures to PS did not induce significant changes in macrophages or immune protein levels, C3 and IgM. This suggests that PLA has a greater immunotoxic response relative to PS. Our research findings contradict the popular belief that bio-based plastics are non-toxic and harmless, which may have potential risk to aquatic organisms.

Journal of Hazardous Materials↗

USGS2024

Microplastic-mediated new mechanism of liver damage: From the perspective of the gut-liver axis

Microplastics (MPs) are environmental contaminants that are present in all environments and can enter the human body, accumulate in various organs, and cause harm through the ingestion of food, inhalation, and dermal contact. The connection between bowel and liver disease and the interplay between gut, liver, and flora has been conceptualized as the “gut-liver axis”. Microplastics can alter the structure of microbial communities in the gut and the liver can also be a target for microplastic invasion. Numerous studies have found that when MPs impair human health, they not only promote dysbiosis of the gut microbiota and disruption of the gut barrier but also cause liver damage. For this reason, the gut-liver axis provides a new perspective in understanding this toxic response. The cross-talk between MPs and the gut-liver axis has attracted the attention of the scientific community, but knowledge about whether MPs cause gut-liver interactions through the gut-liver axis is still very limited, and the effect of MPs on liver injury is not well understood. MPs can directly induce microbiota disorders and gut barrier dysfunction. As a result, harmful bacteria and metabolites in the gut enter the blood through the weak intestinal barrier (portal vein channel along the gut-liver axis) and reach the liver, causing liver damage (inflammatory damage, metabolic disorders, oxidative stress, etc.). This review provides an integrated perspective of the gut-liver axis to help conceptualize the mechanisms by which MP exposure induces gut microbiota dysbiosis and hepatic injury and highlights the connection between MPs and the gut-liver axis. Therefore, from the perspective of the gut-liver axis, targeting intestinal flora is an important way to eliminate microplastic liver damage.

Science of the Total Environment↗