Pharmaceutical pollution is globally widespread and known to affect the biology and ecology of exposed wildlife. However, its effects on wildlife disease, including zoonotic (animal-to-human transmitted) infections, remains unclear. We examined the presence of 97 Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and their associations with zoonotic infections (Leptospira spp., Seoul orthohantavirus, Toxoplasma gondii, Capillaria spp., and Angiostrongylus spp.) in Rattus norvegicus and R. rattus rats, two globally distributed zoonotic reservoirs. We collected 152 rats from low-income urban communities in Salvador, Brazil, and detected APIs in 55.3% of the rats' brain tissues, providing novel evidence of pharmaceutical uptake in a wild, terrestrial mammal. Notably, Leptospira infection was 91% lower in rats containing the antibiotic azithromycin, while detection of antidepressant citalopram corresponded to a 3-fold increase in Capillaria infection risk. Our findings show that environmental APIs absorbed by rats are associated with variation in zoonotic infection risk, representing a previously unrecognized pathway through which pharmaceutical pollution may influence disease dynamics in cities worldwide.

Rising demand for lithium (Li) driven by lithium-ion battery (LIB) proliferation underscores the importance of sustainable recycling. Conventional processes for recovering Li from spent LIB leachate are energy-intensive or chemically demanding, compromising the environmental and economic viability. This study introduces an ecofriendly approach using capillary-driven three-dimensional (3D) evaporative crystallization within a porous cotton matrix. Low-solubility salts (CoCl2, MnCl2, and NiCl2) crystallize proximally, while highly dissolvable LiCl migrates toward the distal zone, achieving spatial separation on the crystallizer. Maximum selectivity reached 109.5 (Li/Co), 7.8 (Li/Ni), and 3.2 (Li/Mn) in the simulated leachate, corresponding to a 4.7-fold enrichment of Li abundance. A comparable selective Li separation was demonstrated for a real leachate, confirming the practical potential of the approach. The natural-physiochemical-process-induced 3D evaporative crystallization eliminates high energy or chemical inputs, providing a sustainable and low-cost pathway for selective Li recovery from variable spent LIB leachates.

Geologic hydrogen production and underground storageare increasinglyimportant for meeting rising energy demands while providing clean-combustionadvantages. However, hydrogen’s high diffusivity and propensityfor leakage through porous media necessitate direct evaluation ofits transport behavior in subsurface materials. Whereas X-ray microcomputedtomography (μCT) studies often employ contrast agents or surrogategases, this study leverages neutron transmission radiography/CT toobserve hydrogen migration in situ. This work representsthe first demonstration of real-time neutron radiography of hydrogenmigration in reservoir and caprock lithologies. Cylindrical coresof Indiana limestone, Amherst Gray sandstone, and Tumey shale weresubjected to constant-pressure hydrogen charging and scanned in realtime using high-resolution neutron radiography. Results indicate immediatehydrogen infiltration in sandstone and limestone, with homogeneousdistribution detected throughout their pore structure. In contrast,hydrogen remained largely absent from fine-grained shale under thesame pressure, except in an apparently localized fracture zone, whereneutron signatures confirmed the presence of hydrogen. Subsequentneutron CT of the sandstone sample, using image subtraction againstan uncharged reference, corroborated hydrogen distribution patterns.Even under low-pressure, single-phase conditions, distinct neutronimaging signatures of hydrogen were achieved. These preliminary findingsunderscore the potential of neutron imaging for advancing subsurfacehydrogen migration research.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a global challenge due to their exceptional thermal and chemical durability which leads to environmental persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity. Tackling this challenge is a complex endeavor as the ever-expanding number of emerging PFAS hinders their monitoring while current countermeasures remain limited. Thus, there is a need for rapid strategies that can transform PFAS into safer, degradable analogs or expand libraries for untargeted monitoring. Here, we describe the implementation of a high-throughput (1 Hz) desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HT-DESI-MS) platform for the chemical transformation of perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) via a data-driven workflow that led to 915 new PFCA analogs (89% success rate) and revealed reactivity trends. Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) enabled online structural confirmation and diagnostic fragment identification, supporting standard-free LC-MS/MS analysis. Further integration with ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) provided drift time measurements correlating with molecular size and shape, adding a new dimension that can improve feature annotation in untargeted PFAS analysis. Complementary quantum mechanical calculations of dipole moment and HOMO- LUMO gap predicted polarity and electronic reactivity, guiding analog selection. Collectively, this workflow combines rapid synthesis, structural annotation, and multidimensional profiling, with potential to discover safer PFAS and enhance environmental monitoring.

Exposure to organophosphate esters (OPEs), used as flameretardantsand plasticizers, is highly variable in the general population, andlimited data exist on exposures in young children. This study evaluatedthe use of silicone ankle bands to assess OPE exposure in infantsunder 18 months of age. Infants (n = 21) wore silicone ankle bandsfor three consecutive days, and spot urine samples were collectedusing either pediatric urine collection bags or toddler training toilets.Ankle bands were analyzed for 20 OPEs; seven were detected in >70%of samples. TDCIPP and TPHP were the most abundant compounds on bands(medians = 57.5 and 53.0 ng/g, respectively). All targeted urinarymetabolites were detected in most samples, with BDCIPP being the mostabundant biomarker (median = 3.7 ng/mL SG-corrected), 2.5 times higherthan DPHP. Significant positive correlations were observed betweenurinary metabolites and parent compounds on the ankle bands (rs = 0.40–0.73, p < 0.05), suggesting that siliconesamplers reliably capture exposure trends. These findings supportankle bands as a practical, noninvasive tool for assessing OPE exposuresin infants, offering an alternative to urine-based biomonitoring.

Quantifying people's exposure to wildfires is essential for assessing related health risks. While hydroxyl metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are commonly used exposure biomarkers of combustion-originated air pollutants, methylated PAHs are more abundant in woodsmoke than other sources. Thus, urinary PAH carboxylic acids, which are metabolites of methylated PAHs, may serve as more sensitive biomarkers of wildfire exposure. In this exploratory study, we developed an LC-MS/MS method to simultaneously quantify hydroxylated and carboxylic metabolites of PAHs and methyl-PAHs in urine. This method was then applied to 56 urine samples collected from 8 campers before, during, and after a 4-hour exposure to campfire. Campers also wore silicone wristbands to monitor ambient PAHs. We found that 1-pyrenecarboxylic acid (1-PYRCA) levels increased significantly at 4 h (96.9%, 95% CI: 2.60-101%), 6 h (96.8%, 95% CI: 5.85-107%), and 8 h (92.5%, 95% CI: 3.59-99.2%), and returned to baseline levels at 24 h. In contrast, the campfire exposure did not significantly increase other urinary PAH metabolites. Wristband PAHs also significantly increased during the 4-hour exposure. These results suggest the use of urinary 1-PYRCA as a sensitive exposure biomarker for woodsmoke and potentially for assessing exposure to wildfires.

Measles outbreaks remain a significant public health challenge, despite high vaccination coverage in many regions. Wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) offers a noninvasive and community-level approach to monitoring the circulation of pathogens, including the measles virus. Here, we retrospectively applied a duplex digital PCR assay to distinguish between wild-type and vaccine strains of the measles virus in wastewater samples available from an existing national WBS program. Samples originated from the wastewater treatment plant serving the Lausanne city catchment area, where an outbreak occurred before spreading to the broader Canton Vaud region. Despite high vaccination rates, viral loads of the measles wild type were detected during the first transmission event involving 21 cases identified within a week. However, viral loads were no longer detectable after the initial 21 cases, despite an additional 30 cases reported in the following 3 weeks, possibly due to lower incidence rate or location outside the catchment. Measles vaccine strain was not detected during the outbreak. Our results demonstrate the complementarity of WBS with clinical surveillance and suggest its potential as an early warning system for measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases. Further improvements in the assay sensitivity and integration with epidemiological data could enhance the utility of WBS for outbreak detection and control.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.4c00917.].

Management of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic waste remains a challenge. PET-hydrolyzing enzymes (PHEs) such as IsPETase and variants like FAST-PETase demonstrate promising PET depolymerization capabilities at ambient temperatures and can be utilized to recycle and upcycle plastic waste. Whole-cell biocatalysts displaying PHEs on their surface offer high efficiency, reusability, and stability for PET depolymerization. However, their efficacy in fully breaking down PET is hindered by the necessity of two enzymes: PETase and MHETase. Current whole-cell systems either display only one enzyme or struggle with performance when displaying larger enzymes such as the MHETase-PETase chimera. We developed a Saccharomyces cerevisiae-based whole-cell biocatalyst for complete depolymerization of PET into its constituent monomers with no accumulation of intermediate products. Leveraging a cellulosome-inspired trifunctional protein scaffoldin displayed on the yeast surface, we co-immobilized FAST-PETase and MHETase, forming a multi-enzyme cluster. This whole-cell biocatalyst achieved complete PET depolymerization at 30 °C, yielding 4.95 mM terephthalic acid (TPA) when tested on a PET film. Furthermore, we showed improved PET depolymerization ability by binding FAST-PETase at multiple sites on the scaffoldin. The whole cells had the added advantage of retained activity over multiple reusability cycles. This breakthrough in complete PET depolymerization marks a step toward a circular plastic economy.

Nickel (Ni) is an essential cofactor in many proteins. Ni stable isotopes have been shown to undergo isotope fractionation in microorganisms and plants. However, the mechanisms driving this fractionation are poorly understood. Here, we present experimental data on Ni isotope fractionation during binding by common Ni-binding amino acids: glutamate (carboxylate side chain), histidine (imidazole side chain), and cysteine (sulfhydryl side chain). We used an equilibrium Donnan dialysis approach to separate free versus bound Ni and measured the isotopic composition of both pools via multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS). Our results reveal that the glutamate and cysteine favor heavy 60Ni (Δ60/58Niglutamate = +0.80 ± 0.08; Δ60/58Nicysteine = +1.27 ± 0.08‰), while histidine causes little isotope shift (-0.12 ± 0.16‰). We then conducted experiments using a short peptide that is a structural analogue for acetyl-CoA synthetase and Ni-iron hydrogenase metal-binding sites. The peptide preferentially bound the heavy 60Ni with a Δ60/58Nipeptide value of +0.74 ± 0.04‰. The Ni isotope effect associated with peptide binding corresponded directly to the fractionation expected based on the coordinating ligands. This work represents an important first step in understanding the mechanistic controls on Ni isotope fractionation and the drivers of Ni isotope fractionation in biological and environmental systems.