Oil and natural gas operations have been shown to contaminate surface and ground water with endocrine-disrupting chemicals. In the current study, we fill several gaps in our understanding of the potential environmental impacts related to this process. We measured the endocrine-disrupting activities of 24 chemicals used and/or produced by oil and gas operations for five nuclear receptors using a reporter gene assay in human endometrial cancer cells. We also quantified the concentration of 16 of these chemicals in oil and gas wastewater samples. Finally, we assessed reproductive and developmental outcomes in male C57BL/6J mice after the prenatal exposure to a mixture of these chemicals. We found that 23 commonly used oil and natural gas operation chemicals can activate or inhibit the estrogen, androgen, glucocorticoid, progesterone, and/or thyroid receptors, and mixtures of these chemicals can behave synergistically, additively, or antagonistically in vitro. Prenatal exposure to a mixture of 23 oil and gas operation chemicals at 3, 30, and 300 μg/kg · d caused decreased sperm counts and increased testes, body, heart, and thymus weights and increased serum testosterone in male mice, suggesting multiple organ system impacts. Our results suggest possible adverse developmental and reproductive health outcomes in humans and animals exposed to potential environmentally relevant levels of oil and gas operation chemicals.

Black walnuts ( Juglans nigra L.) are highly valued for producing phenolic-enriched nuts. The objectives of this study were to identify and characterize the phenolic contents of 11 different black walnut cultivars and compare the levels of these phenolics between black walnuts and English walnut ( Juglans regia L.). Totally, 16 phenolics including phenolic acids, flavonoids, and catechins were identified in the black walnut kernels, with ellagic acid predominating over the other phenolics. Significant differences were noted for the levels of quinic acid, gallic acid, 1,3,6-trigalloylglucose, catechin, and penta- O-galloyl-β-d-glucose between the studied black walnuts and English walnut. Through principal component analysis, 51.54% of the variance in the phenolic data was explained. The hierarchical cluster analysis results showed three groups to which each walnut sample belongs. Most of the phenolics identified in this study have been reported to exert potential health-promoting activities. The findings of this study will provide critical information for consumers, nutritional therapy practitioners, researchers, and producers.

No abstract

No abstract

Similar to other nations in the world, Vietnam has swiftly implemented measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, and these have been transforming many aspects of society. The country is showing resilience to fear, stress, and anxiety related to the COVID-19 pandemic.