Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine and metabolic disorder, typically characterized by anovulation, infertility, obesity, insulin resistance, and polycystic ovaries. Lifestyle or diet, environmental pollutants, genetics, gut dysbiosis, neuroendocrine alterations, and obesity are among the risk factors that predispose females to PCOS. These factors might contribute to upsurging metabolic syndrome by causing hyperinsulinemia, oxidative stress, hyperandrogenism, impaired folliculogenesis, and irregular menstrual cycles. Dysbiosis of gut microbiota may play a pathogenic role in the development of PCOS. The restoration of gut microbiota by probiotics, prebiotics, or a fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) might serve as an innovative, efficient, and noninvasive way to prevent and mitigate PCOS. This review deliberates on the variety of risk factors potentially involved in the etiology, prevalence, and modulation of PCOS, in addition to plausible therapeutic interventions, including miRNA therapy and the eubiosis of gut microbiota, that may help treat and manage PCOS.

Over the last few years, the microbiome has emerged as a high-priority research area to discover missing links between brain health and gut dysbiosis. Emerging evidence suggests that the commensal gut microbiome is an important regulator of the gut–brain axis and plays a critical role in brain physiology. Engaging microbiome-generated metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids, the immune system, the enteric nervous system, the endocrine system (including the HPA axis), tryptophan metabolism or the vagus nerve plays a crucial role in communication between the gut microbes and the brain. Humans are exposed to a wide range of pollutants in everyday life that impact our intestinal microbiota and manipulate the bidirectional communication between the gut and the brain, resulting in predisposition to psychiatric or neurological disorders. However, the interaction between xenobiotics, microbiota and neurotoxicity has yet to be completely investigated. Although research into the precise processes of the microbiota–gut–brain axis is growing rapidly, comprehending the implications of environmental contaminants remains challenging. In these milieus, we herein discuss how various environmental pollutants such as phthalates, heavy metals, Bisphenol A and particulate matter may alter the intricate microbiota–gut–brain axis thereby impacting our neurological and overall mental health.

Contamination of drinking water with endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) raises concerns over the security and long-term sustainability of clean water supplies as well as human exposure via daily water intake. In this study, the seasonal disparity and occurrence of six phthalates and bisphenol-A in the drinking water supply system and associated health-risk were examined. The detection frequencies of the ∑6PAEs ranged from 24 to 100% in the winter whereas; in summer it is below the detection limit up to 100%. DEHP was the most prevalent phthalate congener ranging from 1.14 to 8351.85 µg/L (winter) and 0.552 to 410.29 µg/L (summer) surpassing the permissible limit. However, BPA concentrations were found under the permissible limit. The results suggested that PAEs concentration displayed significant seasonal variations with the highest in winter and the lowest in summer. The exposure to PAEs and BPA from drinking water was assessed, indicating a possible health risk to humans with a hazard quotient (HQ) > 1 for DEHP only. The findings necessitate an immediate scrutiny of these EDCs in drinking water supply system and are critical for implementing effective technologies at the WTP scale to ensure the quality and safety of drinking water to ascertain human and environmental health.

Dioxins: Infamous man-made toxins, a top environmental hazard of great concern. The presence of highly toxic dioxins, specifically polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), in drinking water is a matter of great concern due to their long-lasting nature and harmful effects. In this study, we detected three out of the five dioxin congeners: 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzodioxin (TCDD), 1, 2, 3, 7, 8-pentachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (PeCDD), and octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD). The investigation revealed that all three dioxins were present in samples collected during the winter season, while only TCDD and OCDD were found in samples from the summer season. The geometric mean concentrations of PCDDs were 229.9 ng/L in winter and 108.4 ng/L in summer. These concentrations exceeded the maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 30 pg/L set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in surface water, Water Treatment Plant effluent, overhead tank, and drinking water samples. This indicates a serious risk to the safety of drinking water and public health. The estimated daily intake of PCDDs for residents through drinking water was 273.97 ng-WHO2005-TEQ/kg/day during winter and 78.875 ng-WHO2005-TEQ/kg/day during summer. These values raise significant concerns about the potential health impacts associated with the consumption of contaminated water. The findings our study underscore the urgent need for further research focused on persistent organic pollutants in drinking water supplies. Additionally, it is crucial to develop and implement effective large-scale remediation technologies to combat the adverse effects of dioxin contamination. Safeguarding the quality of drinking water is essential for protecting public health and ensuring the well-being of communities.