Ultraviolet (UV) filters are used in cosmetics, personal care products and packaging materials to provide sun protection for human skin and other substances. Little is known about these substances, but they continue to be released into the environment. The acute toxicity of 4,4’-dihydroxybenzophenone, 2,4,4’-trihydroxybenzophenone and 4-MBC to Chlorella vulgaris and Daphnia magna were analyzed in this study. The 96 h-EC50 values of 4,4’-dihydroxybenzophenone, 2,4,4’-trihydroxybenzophenone and 4-MBC on C. vulgaris were 183.60, 3.50 and 0.16874 mg/L, respectively. The 48 h-LC50 of 4,4’-dihydroxybenzophenone, 2,4,4’-trihydroxybenzophenone and 4-MBC on D. magna were 12.50, 3.74 and 0.54445 mg/L, respectively. The toxicity of a mixture of 4,4’-dihydroxybenzophenone and 4-MBC showed addictive effect on C. vulgaris, while the toxicity of mixtures of 4,4’-dihydroxybenzophenone and 2,4,4’-trihydroxybenzophenone, 2,4,4’-trihydroxybenzophenone and 4-MBC as well as 4,4’-dihydroxybenzophenone, 2,4,4’-trihydroxybenzophenone and 4-MBC all showed antagonistic effect on C. vulgaris. The induced no-effect concentrations of 4,4’-dihydroxybenzophenone, 2,4,4’-trihydroxybenzophenone and 4-MBC by the assessment factor (AF) method were 0.0125, 0.00350 and 0.000169 mg/L, respectively.

Pesticide adjuvants (PAs) denote the general term for auxiliaries in pesticide preparations except for the active components. Toluene, chloroform, and trichloroethylene are the three most commonly used PAs as organic solvents. The residues of the three chemicals in the process of production and application of pesticides may endanger the ecosystem. In the present study, the mutagenicity of toluene, chloroform, and trichloroethylene as well the mixture of the three chemicals was tested by the Salmonella typhimurium reverse mutation test (Ames test) with TA97, TA98, TA100, and TA102 strains in the system with and without rat liver microsomal preparations (S9). The four tester strains have been used for more than 40 years to detect mutagenic compounds in chemicals, cosmetics, and environmental samples. The mutagenicity was detected on tester strains in the separated experiment from the three chemicals. The addition of S9 decreased the mutation ratios of toluene to four strains, except for the TA100 strain, but increased the mutation ratios of chloroform to four strains except for the TA98 strain. Trichloroethylene caused positive mutagenicity to become negative on the TA102 strain. In the mixed experiment, positive effects were detected only on the TA102 strain in the absence of S9. The addition of S9 increased the mutagenicity except for the TA102 strain. The mixture of toluene, chloroform, and trichloroethylene showed antagonism in mutagenicity to tester strains, except for the TA102 strain without S9. However, the mixture showed a synergistic effect to tester strains after adding S9 except for the TA98 strain.

Pesticide adjuvants (PAs) are important components of pesticide. Nonetheless, limited information is available regarding their toxic effects on biota in terrestrial ecosystem. In the present study, the mortality, growth inhibition ratio, and avoidance behavior of Eisenia fetida were examined to investigate the ecotoxicological effects of toluene, xylene, and trichloroethylene and further their mixture. The 24 h median lethal concentration (24 h-LC50) of the three PAs were 300.23, 1190.45, and 5332.36 mg/kg, and the 48 h-LC50 values were 221.62, 962.89, and 4522.41 mg/kg, respectively. The mixture exhibited significant synergistic effect on the E. fetida. There was significant growth inhibition on E. fetida by the tested PAs. The avoidance threshold values of E. fetida for the tested PAs were 1100 mg/kg, 250 mg/kg, 5000 mg/kg, and 25% of the mixture, respectively. The results evaluated the toxic effects of the three PAs and their mixture on E. fetida, provided a basis for ecotoxicological risk assessment of PAs in the soil ecosystem.

Benzophenone (BPs) and 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor are used as ultraviolet (UV) filters to protect the skin and hair in personal care products. The discharging of the three chemicals may endanger the receiving water ecosystem. In the present study, the mutagenicity of BP-6, BP-8, and 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor was tested using the Salmonella typhimurium reverse mutation test (Ames test) in the system with and without rat liver microsomal preparations (S9). Four S.typhimurium strains, TA97, TA98, TA100, and TA102 were employed in the Ames tests. The mutagenicity was detected from all three chemicals. The addition of S9 increased the mutation ratios of three chemicals to four strains, except BP-6 to TA100 strain and 4-MBC to TA97 and TA98 strain. In the mixed experiment, all positive effects were detected in the absence of S9. However, the results all became negative in the presence of S9. For the mixture of BP-6 and 4-MBC, positive results were detected on four tester strains except for the TA100 strain. For the mixture of BP-6, BP-8, and 4-MBC, positive results were detected on four strains. The mixture test results showed antagonism in mutagenicity for the mixture of BP-6 and 4-MBC to TA98 and TA100 strains and the mixture of BP-6, BP-8, and 4-MBC to TA100 and TA102 strains.

We report a fully integrated digital microfluidic absorbance detection system with an enhanced sensitivity for online bacterial monitoring. Through a 100 µm gap in the chip, our optical detection system...