Aquatic Toxicity of Polyethylene and Microcrystalline Cellulose Microbeads Used as Abrasives in Cosmetics

Microplastics have been part of personal care products for years, but due to microplastic pollution, many companies have replaced microplastics with natural particles, such as microcrystalline cellulose. Although natural particles are considered more environmentally friendly, their ecotoxicological profile is unknown. In this context, the aim of this study was to compare the ecotoxicity of polyethylene and microcrystalline cellulose microbeads, both extracted from a cosmetic product. The effects of the two types of particles on the aquatic macrophyte Lemna minor and the crustacean Daphnia magna, as well as the bioadhesion of the particles to Lemna minor were evaluated. The results showed no significant effects of either particle on the specific growth rate, root length, and chlorophyll content of Lemna minor. The bioadhesion of both types of particles to the plant biomass was comparable. Furthermore, no significant effects were observed on the mobility and body length of Daphnia magna. Thus, the investigated polyethylene and cellulose microbeads showed no significant toxic effects on the tested organisms. However, due to the persistence of polyethylene in the environment, the use of polyethylene microbeads in cosmetics and personal care products should be avoided. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

The Problem of Phthalate Occurrence in Aquatic Environment: A Review

This review has four major objectives: I) to present the problem of phthalate pollution, II) to highlight common techniques for quantification of phthalate compounds in water, III) to summarize current trends in determination of phthalates toxicity and point out the major adverse effects, and IV) to discuss and critically compare modern approaches in purification of phthalate-polluted water samples and thus reveal the further perspectives. Phthalates are organic compounds that are used extensively as additives in plastics and personal care products. They have high leaching potential and, therefore, they have been detected in various environments, including aquatic environments. Concentrations of phthalates in water are generally low, so their determination usually requires preconcentration. However, phthalates are compounds with very high hazardous potential. Related toxicity studies have been focused mainly on long-term exposures, and the results have shown that phthalates mainly affect the endocrine and reproductive systems. Therefore, phthalates have become a global concern. Their removal from the environment not only ensures environmental protection, but the protection of human health as well. Among various presented approaches for phthalates removal, anaerobic biodegradation has shown the highest potential for further developments because it is a promising technology for using wastewater as a source of green energy. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Bioremediation of MP-polluted Waters Using Bacteria Bacillus licheniformis, Lysinibacillus massiliensis, and Mixed Culture of Bacillus sp. and Delftia acidovorans

Microplastic particles (MPs) are widely distributed pollutants in the environment. While a growing number of studies have shown that MPs are toxic to plant and animal life, systemic efforts to reduce their presence have been scarce. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and polystyrene (PS) are one of the most common among all plastic-forming MPs. In this study, pure bacterial strains, Bacillus licheniformis and Lysinibacillus massiliensis, and a mixed bacterial culture of Delftia acidovorans and Bacillus sp., were used for biodegradation of LDPE and PS microplastics. Biodegradation of MP-PS and MP-LDPE of particle size 300 – 500 μm was carried out under batch operating conditions at a temperature of 25 ± 2 °C, pH values of 7.15, and 160 rpm during 22 days. The obtained results showed that mixed bacterial cultures degraded MP-LDPE and MP-PS better than pure bacterial cultures, and the biodegradation efficiency was higher for MP-LDPE than for MP-PS, as indicated by greater reduction in peak intensity and spectral deformation, higher colony forming unit (CFU), and inorganic carbon (IC) values. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Dvojni lijekovi primakina i nesteroidnih protuupalnih lijekova: Sinteza, hvatanje slobodnih radikala, antioksidativno djelovanje i keliranje Fe2+ iona

Novel primaquine conjugates with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (PQ-NSAIDs, 4a-h) were prepared, fully chemically characterized and screened for radical scavenging and antioxidant activities. The synthetic procedure leading to twin drugs 4a-h involved two steps: i) preparation of NSAID benzotriazolides 3a-h from the corresponding NSAID (ibuprofen, ketoprofen, fenoprofen, ketoprofen hydroxy and methylene analogues, diclofenac or indomethacin) and benzotriazole carboxylic acid chloride (BtCOCl, 1), ii) reaction of intermediates 3a-h with PQ. The prepared PQ-NSAIDs exerted moderate activities in the DPPH free radical test and -carotene-linoleic acid assay. Moreover, ketoprofen derivatives 4d and 4b demonstrated a notable Fe2+ chelating ability as well. On the other hand, negligible antiproliferative and antituberculotic effects of conjugates 4a-h were observed.U radu je opisana sinteza novih konjugata primakina s nesteroidnim protuupalnim lijekovima (PQ-NSAIDs, 4a-h), njihova potpuna karakterizacija te testiranje sposobnosti hvatanja slobodnih radikala i antioksidativnog djelovanja. Sintetski postupak za pripravu dvojnih lijekova 4a-h uključuje dva koraka: i) pripravu NSAID-benzotriazolida 3a-h iz odgovarajućih nesteroidnih protuupalnih lijekova (ibuprofena, ketoprofena, fenoprofena, hidroksi i metilenskih analoga ketoprofena, diklofenaka i indometacina) i klorida 1-benzotriazol karboksilne kiseline (BtCOCl, 1), ii) reakciju intermedijera 3a-h s primakinom. Novi PQ-NSAID konjugati pokazuju umjerenu sposobnost hvatanja slobodnih radikala u DPPH testu te umjereno antioksidativno djelovanje u pokusu s -karotenom i linoleinskom kiselinom. Osim toga, derivati ketoprofena 4d i 4b imaju primjetnu sposobnost keliranja Fe2+ iona. Svi konjugati 4a-h pokazuju vrlo slabo antiproliferativno i antituberkulotsko djelovanje