The aim of this study was to determine the levels of trace metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) in plastic pellets collected from two sandy beaches on the island of Vis, Croatia. A total of 92 ...pellets in a sediment volume of 3965 mL were collected at the investigated sampling sites. Concentrations of pellets in sediment samples ranged from 6 to 36 particles dm−3 of wet sediment. Mean particle weight of the collected beached pellets ranged from 17 mg to 31 mg. Trace metal concentrations in plastic pellets were greater than the concentrations reported for seawater in the investigated area, which indicates that plastic pellets sorb metals from the marine environment. The adsorbed trace metals may enter the food chain due to incidental ingestion of microplastic particles by marine animals, which presents a potential human health risk due to consumption of seafood.
•Standing stocks of plastic pellets were assessed in surface sediments of two beaches on Vis island.•Trace metal levels (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) were determined in beached plastic pellets.•Investigated trace metals were detected in all of the studied samples.•Trace metal levels in plastic pellets were greater than those in the surrounding seawater.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Heavy metals (HMs) and metalloids migrate into their surroundings, thus increasing environmental risks and threatening human health. Current studies on coal-mine brownfields, however, have not ...thoroughly investigated soil-associated HMs and metalloids produced by coal mining. Therefore, this study explored the spatial and particle fraction distribution and human health implications of HMs and metalloids. The soil-associated HMs and metalloids are Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Mercury (Hg), Manganese (Mn), Nickel (Ni), Lead (Pb), Scandium (Sc), Titanium (Ti) and Zinc (Zn). Results showed that Cd, Cu, Pb, and Ni were enriched in bulk soils. Cadmium, Cu and Pb from anthropogenic source were mainly found at entrance roadsides and in sites closest to coal mines. HMs and metalloids primarily accumulated in fine fractions (<1, 1–5, and 5–10 μm). Moreover, HM and metalloid loadings substantially accumulated in the 75–250 μm and 250–1000 μm fractions. Most fine soil fractions showed moderate to strong potential ecological risks, whereas all the coarse particle fractions (50–75, 75–250, and 250–1000 μm) presented slight potential ecological risk. Exposure to soil-associated HMs and metalloids mainly occurred via ingestion. The total non-carcinogenic risks to children and adults fell below the safe level of 1, whereas the total carcinogenic risks to these individuals were higher than that of the maximum acceptable level set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA, 1 × 10 −4). The total carcinogenic risk was mainly contributed by Cd and Ni through ingestion and dermal access. Therefore, hygiene and food security in areas should be emphasized.
Fig. 7. The relationship among heavy metal content, particle size and TOC of soils from Qingshui River basin. Display omitted
•Distribution and sources of heavy metals in coal mine brownfield were determined.•Distribution characteristics of heavy metals in different soil particles were evaluated.•Sources of heavy metals in various particle sizes were evaluated.•Human health risk of coal mine brownfield was assessed.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
•Epicatechin concentration could predict the total flavanols and procyanidin content.•No correlation was found between catechin content and the rest of flavanols.•% Cocoa solids is no clear indicator ...of (−)-epicatechin, the most bioactive compound.
Assessment of the flavanol composition of 41 commercial chocolates was by HPLC-DAD. Among individual flavonols ranged from 0.095 to 3.264mgg−1, epicatechin was the predominant flavanol accounting for 32.9%. Contrary to catechin, epicatechin was a reliable predictive value of the polyphenol content. Conversely the percentage of theobromine used as a proxy measure for nonfat cocoa solids (NFCS) was not a good predictor of epicatechin or flavanol content. In a further chiral analysis, the naturally occurring forms of cocoa flavanols, (−)-epicatechin and (+)-catechin, was determined joint the occurrence of (+)-epicatechin and (−)-catechin due to the epimerization reactions produced in chocolate manufacture. (−)-Epicatechin, the most bioactive compound and predominant form accounted of 93%. However, no positive correlation was found with% cocoa solids, the most significant quality parameter.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
The occurrence of fifty-five pharmaceuticals, hormones and metabolites in raw waters used for drinking water production and their removal through a drinking water treatment were studied. Thirty-five ...out of fifty-five drugs were detected in the raw water at the facility intake with concentrations up to 1200 ng/L. The behavior of the compounds was studied at each step: prechlorination, coagulation, sand filtration, ozonation, granular activated carbon filtration and post-chlorination; showing that the complete treatment accounted for the complete removal of all the compounds detected in raw waters except for five of them. Phenytoin, atenolol and hydrochlorothiazide were the three pharmaceuticals most frequently found in finished waters at concentrations about 10 ng/L. Sotalol and carbamazepine epoxide were found in less than a half of the samples at lower concentrations, above 2 ng/L. However despite their persistence, the removals of these five pharmaceuticals were higher than 95%.
► Thirty-five out of fifty-five drugs detected in raw waters. ► Drinking treatment effectively removes 30 out of 35 target pharmaceuticals. ► Phenytoin, atenolol, sotalol, hydrochlorothiazide and carbamazepine epoxide detected in finished waters.
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•Sugar and organic composition in Wolfberry fruit were analyzed for the first time.•Wolfberry (Lycium barbarum L.) fruit was rich in total sugars and fructose.•Citric acid was the major organic acid ...during Wolfberry fruit development.
Wolfberry (Lycium barbarum L.) fruits of three cultivars (‘Damaye’, ‘Baihua’ and ‘Ningqi No.1’) were harvested at five different ripening stages and evaluated for sugars and organic acids. Fructose, glucose and total sugar contents increased continually through development and reached their maxima at 34days after full bloom (DAF). Fructose and glucose were the predominant sugars at maturity, while sucrose content had reduced by maturity. L.barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) content was in the range of 13.03–76.86mgg−1FW during ripening, with a maximum at 20DAF. Citric, tartaric and quinic acids were the main organic acid components during development, and their levels followed similar trends: the highest contents were at 30, 14 and 20DAF, respectively. The significant correlations of fructose and total sugar contents with LBP content during fruit development indicated that they played a key role in LBP accumulation.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
This study investigated the feasibility of detecting pesticides using terahertz (THz) spectroscopy in high-density polyethylene and/or wheat flour mixtures. The absorption spectra of seven pesticides ...(dicofol, chlorpyrifos, chlorpyrifos-methyl, daminozide, imidacloprid, diethyldithiocarbamate, and dimethyldithiocarbamate) were measured in the frequency range 0.1 to 3 THz at room temperature. Five of the seven pesticides exhibited specific absorption peaks in the low-energy THz range. The two remaining pesticides had no specific absorption peaks in this frequency range, but they exhibited different frequency-dependent refractive indices. The absorption coefficients of imidacloprid increased with its increasing weight ratio in high-density polyethylene, and the fitted power absorptions and refractive indices using a Maxwell-Garnett effective medium model were comparable to the measured data. Imidacloprid was also identified from its characteristic absorption peaks in wheat flour mixtures, and a linear relationship between the absorption coefficient and the weight ratio was observed. Our results show the potential of detection of selected pesticides in foods, such as wheat flour, using THz spectroscopy.
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CEKLJ, GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The aims of this study were to investigate the occurrence and distribution of total mercury (Hg) and other trace elements of environmental concern, such as arsenic (As), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), ...manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) and vanadium (V), in soils from the abandoned Merník cinnabar mine in eastern Slovakia. For this purpose, thirty soil samples from two depth intervals within the mine area (
n
= 60 soil samples) and additional sixteen soil samples from adjacent areas (
n
= 25 soil samples) were collected. Total Hg was measured by atomic absorption spectrometry, while As and other metals were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. High mercury concentrations (> 100 mg/kg with a maximum of 951 mg/kg) were observed only in surface soils close to mine waste heaps and adits. Otherwise, Hg concentrations in the majority of surface soils were lower (0.14–19.7 mg/kg), however, higher than Hg in soils collected from sites outside the mine area (0.19–6.92 mg/kg) and even considerably higher than Hg in soils at sites not influenced by the Merník mine. Elevated Cr and Ni concentrations in soils regardless of their sampling sites (mean of 276 mg/kg and median of 132 mg/kg for Cr and 168 mg/kg and 81 mg/kg for Ni, respectively) were attributed to the lithology of the area; the soils are underlain by the sediments of the Central Carpathian Palaeogene, containing a detritus of ultrabasic rocks. As our geochemical data are compositional in nature, they were further treated by compositional data analysis (CoDA). Robust principal component analysis (RPCA) applied on centred (
clr
) log-ratio-transformed data and correlation analysis of compositional parts based on symmetric balances distinguished very well different sources of origin for the chemical elements. The following three element associations were identified: Hg association with the main source in mining/roasting, Cr–Ni association derived from bedrock and As–Cu–Mn–Pb–Zn–V association (natural background and minor sulphides/sulfosalts in mineralized rocks). The values of geoaccumulation index and enrichment factor suggested that concentrations of Hg in the soils were influenced by human industrial activities.
Nail salon technicians face chronic exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can lead to adverse health outcomes including cancer. In this study, indoor levels of formaldehyde, as well as ...benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene, were measured in 6 Colorado nail salons. Personal exposure VOC measurements and health questionnaires (n = 20) were also performed; questionnaires included employee demographics, health symptoms experienced, and protective equipment used. Cancer slope factors from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and anthropometric data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were then used to estimate cancer risk for workers, assuming 20-yr exposures to concentrations of benzene and formaldehyde reported here. Results show that 70% of surveyed workers experienced at least one health issue related to their employment, with many reporting multiple related symptoms. Indoor concentrations of formaldehyde ranged from 5.32 to 20.6 μg m−3, across all 6 salons. Indoor concentrations of toluene ranged from 26.7 to 816 μg m−3, followed by benzene (3.13–51.8 μg m−3), xylenes (5.16–34.6 μg m−3), and ethylbenzene (1.65–9.52 μg m−3). Formaldehyde levels measured in one salon exceeded the Recommended Exposure Limit from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Cancer risk estimates from formaldehyde exposure exceeded the US EPA de minimis risk level (1 × 10−6) for squamous cell carcinoma, nasopharyngeal cancer, Hodgkin's lymphoma, and leukemia; leukemia risk exceeded 1 × 10−4 in one salon. The average leukemia risk from benzene exposure also exceeded the US EPA de minimis risk level for all demographic categories modeled. In general, concentrations of aromatic compounds measured here were comparable to those measured in studies of oil refinery and auto garage workers. Cancer risk models determined that 20-yr exposure to formaldehyde and benzene concentrations measured in this study will significantly increase worker's risk of developing cancer in their lifetime.
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•VOCs in nail salons exceeded odor thresholds and inhalation reference concentrations.•BTEX levels in nail salons were similar to those in oil refineries and auto garages.•Most nail salon workers reported health issues related to their employment.•Nail technicians who work more than 20 years may experience increased cancer risk.
VOCs measured in this study exceeded odor thresholds and NIOSH exposure limits, and 20-yr exposure to formaldehyde and benzene levels measured here will increase risk of cancer.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
A two-step process of protein detection at a single molecule level using SERS was developed as a proof-of-concept platform for medical diagnostics. First, a protein molecule was bound to a linker in ...the bulk solution and then this adduct was chemically reacted with the SERS substrate. Traut's Reagent (TR) was used to thiolate Bovine serum albumin (BSA) in solution followed by chemical cross linking to a gold surface through a sulfhydryl group. A Glycine-TR adduct was used as a control sample to identify the protein contribution to the SER spectra. Gold SERS substrates were manufactured by electrochemical deposition. Solutions at an ultralow concentration were used for attaching the TR adducts to the SERS substrate. Samples showed the typical behavior of a single molecule SERS including spectral fluctuations, blinking and Raman signal being generated from only selected points on the substrate. The fluctuating SER spectra were examined using Principle Component Analysis. This unsupervised statistics allowed for the selecting of spectral contribution from protein moiety indicating that the method was capable of detecting a single protein molecule. Thus we have demonstrated, that the developed two-step methodology has the potential as a new platform for medical diagnostics.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Salivary Biomarkers in a Biofilm Overgrowth Model Morelli, Thiago; Stella, Michael; Barros, Silvana P. ...
Journal of periodontology (1970),
December 2014, 2014-Dec, 2014-12-00, 20141201, Volume:
85, Issue:
12
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Background: The purpose of this study is to determine whether baseline salivary inflammatory biomarkers could discriminate between different clinical levels of disease and/or detect clinical changes ...over a 3‐week stent‐induced biofilm overgrowth (SIBO) period.
Methods: A total of 168 participants were enrolled in a 21‐day experimental gingivitis investigation and grouped according to clinical measures of periodontal status of health and diseased individuals representing each of five biofilm gingival interface (BGI) periodontal groups: 1) health, all probing depth (PD) <3 mm and bleeding on probing (BOP) <10%; 2) gingivitis, all PD <3 mm and BOP ≥10%; 3) periodontitis (P)1, ≥1 site with PD >3 mm and BOP ≤10%; 4) P2, ≥1 site with PD >3 mm and BOP >10% but ≤50%; and 5) P3, ≥1 site with PD >3 mm and BOP >50%. Stents were used to prevent plaque removal during brushing over one maxillary and one mandibular posterior dental sextant for 21 days. Clinical periodontal parameters and unstimulated saliva were collected at screening, baseline, and each week during SIBO. Saliva samples were assessed for levels of 13 different biomarkers by multiplex immunoassay.
Results: Higher salivary levels of interleukin (IL)‐1β, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐3, MMP‐8, MMP‐9, and neutrophil gelatinase‐associated lipocalin (NGAL) were found in diseased groups compared with the healthy group at baseline. Conversely, higher IL‐1 receptor antagonist (ra) levels were found in healthy patients at baseline. In addition, during SIBO, MMP‐1, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)‐1, and TIMP‐2 levels increased across all participant groups. A stepwise linear regression model using all salivary biomarkers demonstrated that, at baseline, increased IL‐1ra (P = 0.004) and IL‐6 (P = 0.009) were significantly associated with change in PDs during SIBO.
Conclusions: In summary, this investigation supports salivary levels of IL‐1ra and IL‐6 as potential indicators for PD changes during induced gingival inflammation. In addition, participants from the BGI‐P3 group (severe periodontitis) demonstrated elevated baseline levels of IL‐1β, MMP‐3, MMP‐8, MMP‐9, and NGAL compared with the other study groups, strengthening the relevance of participants’ biologic phenotype on expression of salivary biomarkers.
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BFBNIB, CMK, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
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