The effects of changes in environmental temperatures on the immobilization or removal of cationic potentially toxic elements (PTE) in heavily polluted soils are often poorly understood, although both ...are widely studied in the context of phytostabilization. To address this issue, a novel compost-diatomite hybrid (CDH) amendment was developed and applied for assisted phytostabilization at two external temperature regimes. (Cd/Ni/Cu/Zn)-extremely contaminated soils (unenriched and CDH-enriched) were cultivated with perennial ryegrass and native soil microbiome under greenhouse conditions and then transferred to freeze-thaw conditions (FTC). The decrease in metal potential toxicity in soils undergoing phytostabilization following both temperature treatments was characterized by a combination of sequential extraction and atomic absorption measurements. The soil microbiome was characterized by high-throughput sequencing. In a relative comparison, the greatest decrease in the content of all different PTEs in CDH-enriched soil (compared to unenriched soil) was highest in FTC. Furthermore, under the influence of FTC, in a relative comparison between two CDH-enriched soils (exposed-, and not-exposed- to FTC) and two unenriched soils (exposed-, and not-exposed- to FTC), the content of all PTEs decreased more sharply in the CDH-enriched series than in the unenriched series. The largest redistribution into four sequentially extracted fractions in CDH-enriched soil was found for Zn. Based on the distribution pattern, Zn immobilization was greater in CDH-enriched soil in FTC. CDH increased species richness in the soil, while FTC stimulated the growth of Bacteroidia, Alphaproteobacteria, Theromomicrobia, and Gammaproteobacteria. Analysis of the functionalities of the microbiome indicated enhanced metal transportation and defense systems in samples exposed to FTC. The current research is crucial for understanding how extreme environmental conditions in the form of high contaminant levels and low temperatures affect the movement and transformation of PTEs in polluted soils during phytostabilization.
Display omitted
•The grass/microbiome/compost-diatomite hybrid (CDH) remediates metal-polluted soil.•CDH decreases Cd/Ni/Cu/Zn contents in the soil under freeze-thaw conditions (FTC).•CDH and FTC increase Zn immobilization in calcareous soil.•Sphingomonas, Acidobacterium, and Mycobacterium were core genera in metal-polluted soil.•CDH increases microbial diversity and abundance of Planctomycetia and Chlamydiia.
This study investigates the impact of seasonality on estuarine soil geochemistry, focusing on redox-sensitive elements, particularly Fe, in a tropical estuary affected by Fe-rich mine tailings. We ...analyzed soil samples for variations in particle size, pH, redox potential (Eh), and the content of Fe, Mn, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Pb. Additionally, sequential extraction was employed to understand the fate of these elements. Results revealed dynamic changes in the soil geochemical environment, transitioning between near-neutral and suboxic/anoxic conditions in the wet season and slightly acidic to suboxic/oxic conditions in the dry season. During the wet season, fine particle deposition (83%) rich in Fe (50 g kg−1), primarily comprising crystalline Fe oxides, occurred significantly. Conversely, short-range ordered Fe oxides dominated during the dry season. Over consecutive wet/dry seasons, substantial losses of Fe (−55%), Mn (−41%), and other potentially toxic elements (Cr: −44%, Cu: −31%, Ni: −25%, Pb: −9%) were observed. Despite lower pseudo-total PTE contents, exchangeable PTEs associated with carbonate content increased over time (Cu: +188%, Ni: +557%, Pb: +99%). Modeling indicated climatic variables and short-range oxides substantially influenced PTE bioavailability, emphasizing the ephemeral Fe oxide control during the wet season and heightened ecological and health risks during the dry seasons.
Display omitted
•Soil clay contents and soil pH were higher during the wet season.•Higher Fe availability in the estuarine soils during the dry seasons.•Potential toxic elements bioavailability increased over time.•Climatic factors explained 48% of PTEs' bioavailability in the estuarine soils.•Short-range ordered oxides exert control over PTEs’ bioavailability.
We previously showed that almost 100% of the electroencephalographic generalized seizures after lateral fluid-percussion (FPI) induced traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurred in the transition between ...stage III and REM sleep. Our objective was to investigate whether the change in the characteristics of sleep spindles would serve as diagnostic biomarkers for post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE).
Analysis groups included 26 TBI rats with epilepsy, 60 TBI rats without epilepsy, and 24 sham-operated controls. A 24-h epoch of a continuous 3-wk video-EEG recorded at 3months after lateral FPI-induced was divided into 2947 epochs (30 seceach), andsleep stages were identified. Then, the graphoelements (spindles) occurring during the transition stage III and REM sleep were identified and traced, and their duration was measured.
Spindle duration (SD) was shorter in the TBI than the Sham group (p=0.029). In the TBI group, rats with epilepsy had shorter SD than rats without epilepsy (p=0.0001). ROC analysis showed that spindle duration differentiated TBI animals with or without epilepsy with high sensitivity and specificity as the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.884 (sensitivity 81% at 97% specificity; SD<1.74s).
Our data show that the shortening of SDs during the transition from stage III to REM sleep differentiates epileptic from non-epileptic animals after TBI.
Shortening of spindle duration in the transition between stage III and REM sleep is a diagnostic biomarker for post-traumatic epilepsy.
Over the last century, the Atacama Desert has been exploited due to the mineral resources in this environment. These anthropogenic effects have primarily been linked to the development of the mining ...industry, the impact of which remains uncertain. Here, we use high-resolution geochemical characterization and magnetic properties analysis from the sedimentary core of Inka Coya Lake, located in the Atacama Desert, to assess the anthropogenic impact in this metallogenic region. The geochemistry and magnetic properties changed with core depth. Elements, such as Cu, Ni, and Zn, increased during the lake's most recent period.
Additionally, an increase in mass magnetic susceptibility (χ) and a decrease in magnetic susceptibility depending on the frequency (χfd%) may be attributed to fine iron oxide grains originating from industrial and urban sources. Moreover, indices of pollution classified the sediment of Inka Coya Lake as slightly polluted and strongly polluted with Ni, and Cu, respectively. This could reflect a period of pollution caused by the increase in the production of copper sulfide. These results highlight the possible impact of mining activities in the hyper-arid core of the Atacama Desert, which affects surrounding areas through dispersive processes, even reaching high altitudes, and provides a scientific basis for the prevention of environmental pollution from mining and the protection of the sediment and water source in the Atacama Desert.
Display omitted
•Anthropogenic effects in the Atacama Desert due to mineral resources have led to uncertain impacts from mining.•Geochemical analysis of Inka Coya Lake core reveals increased toxic elements in recent sediments.•Pollution indices highlight moderate/high pollution levels of Cu, Ni, Sb.•Correlation between local production Cu and Cu EF suggests antrophogenic source in sediment.
This paper presents a summary of some relevant documents published during the last decades regarding arsenic contamination in Brazil until December 2018, including scientific papers, reports and ...regulatory documents. Natural and anthropogenic arsenic sources were covered, excluding those related to agriculture. International “key” documents related to arsenic contamination were used to support the discussion and comparative analysis. This paper aims: (a) to summarize and discuss some available data (including Portuguese written documents) concerning arsenic contamination in Brazil, mainly geographical, geological, geochemical, environmental and health studies; (b) to critically review the published studies comparing their main findings; (c) to describe and compare ancient and recent contamination events; and (d) to highlight key knowledge gaps, and identify promising areas for future researches.
The arsenic contamination scenario in Brazil results not only from mining. Natural or anthropogenic emissions caused by great magnitude phenomena as flooding, erosion, landslide and, water scarcity equally impact arsenic mobilization/immobilization equilibria.
Our literature review demonstrates that arsenic contamination of soils, sediments and water sources is observed at least at three of the five geographically defined Brazilian regions (Northern, Southern and, Southeastern regions). Arsenic enriched soils, and waters naturally occur all around the country and anthropogenic activities have been the main contributory factor to the environmental contamination since the 18th Century. Geogenic materials (topsoil and mining tailings), and water samples could contain extremely high arsenic concentrations, i.e. 21,000 mg kg−1 or 1,700,000 μg L−1, respectively, have been found mainly at the “Iron Quadrangle”. Moreover, if we consider both the Brazilian and international parameters, the health risks associated with the human exposition to arsenic are of significant concern.
For those reasons, constant monitoring of As contaminated areas in Brazil is mandatory. Furthermore, it is necessary to learn from the mistakes made in the past in order to prevent or minimize future problems.
Display omitted
•A scenario of arsenic contamination in Brazil was depicted.•Arsenic contamination from mining activities in Brazil is an ongoing concern.•Collapse of Fundão Dam led to extensive As contamination in the Rio Doce Basin.•Mobility of As in and out of different environmental compartments is complex.•Arsenic equilibrium is influenced by anthropogenic factors.
The “Land of pyres”, namely “La Terra dei Fuochi”, is an area of Campania region (South-Italy), highly inhabited and comprises between the Provinces of Naples and Caserta, sadly known worldwide for ...the criminal activities related to the illegal waste disposal and burning. These fires, concomitantly with traffic emissions, might be the source of potential toxic element (PTE) dangerous for the human health and causing pathologies. In the framework of Correlation Health–Environment project, funded by the Campania region, eight municipalities (of area “Land of pyres”) and three remote sites have been bio-monitored using the olive (Olea europaea L.) plants as biomonitors. Leaves of olive plants were collected in each assayed municipality and the concentration of 11 metal(loid)s was evaluated by means of ICP-OES. Our findings revealed that the air of these municipalities was limitedly contaminated by PTE; in fact, only Sb, Al and Mn were detected in the olive leaves collected in some of the assayed municipalities and showed a high enrichment factors (EC) manly due, probably, to the vehicular traffic emissions. Furthermore, the concentrations of the other assayed PTEs were lower than those of Sb, Al and Mn. For these reasons we suppose that their emissions in the troposphere have been and are limited, and they mainly have a crustal origin. Even if our data are very comforting for those urban area, regarded by many as one of the most contaminated one in Italy, a great environment care, in any case, is always needed.
•PTEs represent a serious risk for ecosystems and human health due to their persistence and biotoxicity.•Olive trees are good bioindicators to assess the air suitability at the “Land of pyres” area.•The air at the “Land of pyres” area was only marginally polluted by PTE.•Enrichment factors revealed anthropogenic origins for Sb, Al and Mn elements.
Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension Mahmud, Ehtisham; Madani, Michael M.; Kim, Nick H. ...
Journal of the American College of Cardiology,
05/2018, Letnik:
71, Številka:
21
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), a rare consequence of an acute pulmonary embolism, is a disease that is underdiagnosed, and surgical pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) ...remains the preferred therapy. However, determination of operability is multifactorial and can be challenging. There is growing excitement for the percutaneous treatment of inoperable CTEPH with data from multiple centers around the world showing the clinical feasibility of balloon pulmonary angioplasty. Riociguat remains the only approved medical therapy for CTEPH patients deemed inoperable or with persistent pulmonary hypertension after PTE. We recommend that expert multidisciplinary CTEPH teams be developed at individual institutions. Additionally, optimal and standardized techniques for balloon pulmonary angioplasty need to be developed along with dedicated interventional equipment and appropriate training standards. In the meantime, the percutaneous revascularization option is appropriate for patients deemed inoperable in combination with targeted medical therapy, or those who have failed to benefit from surgery.
Display omitted
Large amounts of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) have, and continue to be, released into the freshwater ecosystems of Pakistan. However, there is limited information available on the ecological ...risk of PTEs from sediments and fish consumption, for both the general population and fishermen, at the national scale in Pakistan. In this study, water, sediments and fish samples were collected from major rivers (Chenab, Upper Indus, Lower Indus and Kabul) across Pakistan and analyzed through Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP–MS), Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy ICP–AES and Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry (AFS), respectively. Ecological risk analysis of sediments revealed that Cd posed a high ecological risk in the Upper Indus and Chenab, a considerable risk in the Lower Indus, and moderate risk in the Kabul. The target hazard quotient of As through fish tissue consumption exceeded safety levels for fishermen at all the rivers, where Cd exceeded at Upper Indus and Chenab, and Pb for Chenab fishermen only. For the general population, PTE ingestion through fish tissues was within the safety limits at all rivers. Meanwhile, the total target hazard quotient in all three rivers exceeded the safety limit, representing a high risk for the fishermen of Pakistan. The results show that ecological risk and target hazard quotient assessment not only provides valuable information for future research in terms of PTE contamination in the major rivers of Pakistan, but also all the metal pollutants from rivers finally reach to Arabian Sea, therefore might pose a risk to marine ecosystem at national and international scale.
Display omitted
•Water, sediments and fish of Chenab, Indus and Kabul rivers analyzed for toxic metals.•Ecological risk of PTEs from sediments and fish consumption was assessed.•The ecological risk index of Cd and As was higher than other elements.•Hazard quotient of As and Cd via fish ingestion exceeded safety levels for fishermen.•Total target hazard quotient also exceeded safety limits for fishermen in all the rivers.
Psychological resilience refers to self-perceived capacities contributing to a favourable outcome after potentially traumatic events.
The RES is a brief and freely available assessment of ...psychological resilience.
The Chinese RES shows good reliability and validity.
The RES could potentially be used in both Western and Eastern cultural backgrounds.
The Resilience Evaluation Scale (RES) is a novel and freely available measure of psychological resilience (factored into self-confidence and self-efficacy). To date, psychometric properties were evaluated in Dutch and American samples, but not yet in a Chinese sample.
We aimed to validate the RES in a Chinese sample by examining its factor structure, reliability, and construct validity.
The RES was translated into Chinese following a cross-cultural translation and adaptation procedure. Self-report questionnaires including the RES, exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTE's), the PTSD checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), and scales for conceptually related constructs of psychological resilience were then administered via an online survey.
In total, 484 Chinese adults (females, 66.9%; age: 27.33 ± 6.86 years) participated. Parallel analysis results suggested a one-factor structure for the Chinese RES. The Chinese RES demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.88). Construct validity was demonstrated through significant associations with hypothesised related constructs and through a relation with lower levels of PTSD among the PTE-exposed subsample (n = 116) via the mediating role of avoidant coping strategies, i.e. behavioural disengagement and self-blame.
Our results suggest that the RES is a reliable and valid assessment of psychological resilience to use in Chinese, in addition to its Dutch and English versions. The RES could potentially be adopted to measure psychological resilience in cross-cultural contexts.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
There are thousands of disused and abandoned mining sites around the world with substantial accumulations of exposed mine spoil materials that pose a direct threat to their surrounding environment. ...Management of such sites, and neutralisation of the environmental threats they pose, is therefore extremely important and is an issue of global significance. Low cost management and remediation strategies need to be developed because many abandoned mine sites are in remote and/or economically challenged areas. One promising option is the incorporation of biochar into spoil materials, which has the potential to immobilise leachable toxic constituents and facilitate revegetation and thereby stabilisation of spoil heaps. This study investigated the capacity of readily available biochar materials made from wheat and rice waste products to immobilise and retain key metallic contaminants Pb and Zn from solution, and also investigated the utility of biochar application for remediating mine spoil heaps from different mine types in terms of facilitating establishment of vegetation coverage and minimising porewater element mobility within spoil heaps. The results demonstrated the high sorption capacity of the biochars (typically >97% of Pb or Zn in solution) and their ability to retain the metals despite an active desorption procedure (>93% of sorbed Pb retained and >75% of sorbed Zn). The remediation trial revealed that biochar application increased plant yield and decreased plant assimilation of many potentially toxic elements and also decreased spoil porewater concentrations of Al, Cd, Pb and Zn in most cases. In some spoil types investigated biochar addition also significantly decreased porewater concentrations of As (e.g. from ~30 mg/L to ~5 mg/L), demonstrating its potential utility for low cost environmental remediation across a range of mine spoil types.
Display omitted
•Wheat straw and rice husk biochars efficiently sorbed Pb and Zn from solution.•Mixing biochar into mining spoil materials decreased toxic element mobility.•Biochar addition facilitated vegetation growth on spoil heap materials.•Biochar can be part of mine site remediation strategies.
PDF
