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A huge quantity of textile effluent sludge is generated from 21 076 textile units of India and dumped in large areas, leading to contamination of soil, surface water and groundwater. Hence, effective management of this sludge is important for its reuse and safe disposal. Considering the utilization of this waste in construction activities, the current paper explores the potential of textile sludge produced from textile industry effluent treatment plants. Many researchers have attempted to reuse this sludge for the development of sustainable construction materials and suggested its optimum usage as a partial substitution for fine aggregate, cement and clay with or without additives for the manufacturing of non-structural building components. This paper provides a critical review of the production of non-structural elements – namely, sustainable building blocks, clay bricks, mortar and paver blocks – using textile effluent treatment plant sludge and recommends optimum ranges of 5–30, 5–40, 5–50 and 20–40%, respectively. The prominent gaps are suggested as the outcome of studies such as techno-economic feasibility of the product, thermal and energy building simulation along with the life-cycle assessment and fatigue life assessment of the developed paver blocks.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have widely been used for decades as flame retardants in a variety of products like plastics for building insulation, upholstered furniture, electrical appliances, vehicles, aircrafts, polyurethane foams, textiles, cable insulation, appliance plugs and various technical plastics in concentrations of 5-30%. However, PBDEs also act as endocrine disrupters, neurotoxins, and negatively affect fertility. In 2001, worldwide consumption of technically relevant penta-BDEs was still estimated at 7500 tons, octa-BDEs at 3790 tons, and deca-BDE at 56,100 tons, but 50-60% of this total volume are discharged into the environment via sewage sludge and its agricultural use alone. In addition, soils are ubiquitously contaminated by the gaseous or particle-bound transport of PBDEs, which today has its main source in highly contaminated electronic waste recycling sites. The emitted PBDEs enter the food chain via uptake by the plants’ roots and shoots. However, uptake and intrinsic transport behaviour strongly depend on crop specifics and various soil parameters. The relevant exposure and transformation pathways, transport-relevant soil and plant characteristics and both root concentration factors (RCF) and transfer factors (TF) as derivable parameters are addressed and quantified in this review. Finally, a simple predictive model for quantification of RCF and TF based on log KOW values and the organic content of the soil/lipid content of the plants is also presented., Umweltbundesamt, Projekt DEAL

BackgroundIn the context of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, reuse of personal protective equipment, specifically that of medical face coverings, has been recommended. The reuse of these typically single-use only items necessitates procedures to inactivate contaminating human respiratory and gastrointestinal pathogens. We previously demonstrated decontamination of surgical masks and respirators contaminated with infectious SARS-CoV-2 and various animal coronaviruses via low concentration- and short exposure methylene blue photochemical treatment (10 µM methylene blue, 30 minutes of 12,500-lux red light or 50,000 lux white light exposure).MethodsHere, we describe the adaptation of this protocol to the decontamination of a more resistant, non-enveloped gastrointestinal virus and demonstrate efficient photodynamic inactivation of murine norovirus, a human norovirus surrogate.ResultsMethylene blue photochemical treatment (100 µM methylene blue, 30 minutes of 12,500-lux red light exposure) of murine norovirus-contaminated masks reduced infectious viral titres by over four orders of magnitude on surgical mask surfaces.Discussion and ConclusionsInactivation of a norovirus, the most difficult to inactivate of the respiratory and gastrointestinal human viruses, can predict the inactivation of any less resistant viral mask contaminant. The protocol developed here thus solidifies the position of methylene blue photochemical decontamination as an important tool in the package of practical pandemic preparedness.

The effect of environmental pollutants on living organisms can be assessed by studying the changes in the indigenous microbial community. Therefore, in this study, cultivatable bacterial community in nonpolluted as well as household sewage and industrially polluted water of Lai Nullah flowing through Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan was analyzed. Bacterial community composition and population present in the polluted water were significantly different from the nonpolluted water (P −1 at all the study sites. During plate assay, bacterial strains found at polluted sites showed resistance to selected heavy metals with highest minimum inhibitory concentration for lead (8 mmol·L−1) followed by copper (5 mmol·L−1), nickel (3 mmol·L−1), and cadmium (1 mmol·L−1). All the bacterial isolates also showed various levels of resistance against antibiotics ampicillin, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, and vancomycin using broth microdilution method. Current research provides new insight into the effect of household sewage and the industrially polluted water of Lai Nullah on the indigenous bacteria.

The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of a germicidal ultraviolet light-emitting diode (LED) on the contamination level of a back table in the operating room (OR) during total joint arthroplasty procedures.Eight Tryptic Soy Agar petri plates were placed on a table located near the operative field and exposed to air. One plate was removed on the hour over an 8-hour time span. The back table had either an UV-LED for disinfection or a sham UV-LED. This process was repeated in 12 different ORs (6 with UV light, 6 with sham device). The plates were then incubated for 48 hours at 36°C ± 1°C . Colony forming units (CFU) were recorded 24 and 48 hours after incubation.There was a statistically significant difference in total CFUs between the intervention vs sham at 24-hours (27 vs 95, P = .0001) and 48-hours (38 vs 122, P.0001). The multivariate analysis revealed that the 24-hour and 48-hour count, the predictors UV light (P = .002) and hour of plate removal (P = .050) were statistically significantly associated with CFU counts. Together, the predictor variables explained 15.8% and 23.0% of the variance in CFU counts at 24- and 48-hours, respectively.A back table UV-LED may decrease environmental contamination near the operative field. This has potential to lead to a decrease in joint infection.

The study aims at investigating chemical speciation, bioavailability and risk assessment of some selected metals in soils around refined petroleum depot using the concentrations of the metals as variables to ascertain the impacts of the activities within the petroleum depot. Surface-soils (0–15 cm) were collected from within the premises of Pipelines and Product Marketing Company, Ibadan, Nigeria, while control samples were collected at 200 m away from the study location. Electrical conductivity and pH were measured using a calibrated dual purpose meter, while elemental analysis was done using Atomic absorption spectroscopy analytical technique. The results showed that the soils exhibited low ecological risk; minor enrichment for Mn, moderately severe enrichment for Ni and Co, severe enrichment for Cr and extremely severe enrichment for Pb, Zn and Cd. There was low contamination factor for Pb, Ni, Mn, Cr, Co, and Fe and moderate contamination by Zn and Cd. Geo - accumulation index results indicated unpolluted with Ni, Mn, Cr, Co, and Fe, unpolluted to moderately polluted with Pb and Zn and moderately to strongly polluted with Cd. Inter-element clustering results indicated chemical affinity and/or similar genetic origin among the elements. Speciation analysis suggested that Fe, Co, Cr, Cd, and Ni occurred in the residual fraction; Pb, and Zn in the carbonate fraction, while Mn have its highest percentage in the Fe–Mn oxides fraction. Percentage mobility and bioavailability showed that most of the metals are immobile and non-bioavailable. Study concluded that the oil-impacted soils were contaminated with most of the metals, but with low ecological risk.

Summary Background Bone allografts are harvested and transplanted under sterile conditions. However, the risk of bacterial contamination of grafts during these processes is a health concern. Bioburden testing and bacterial contamination detection are conducted to ensure allograft sterility. Aim The present study aimed to determine the incidence of bacterial contamination in bone allografts based on different classifications. Methods PROSPERO registration number was received for the study. Systematic searches were conducted in PubMed and EMBASE databases with relevant keywords from January 2000 to March 2021. After choosing related studies according to the PRISMA flow diagram, Stata software was used for data analysis. We considered I 2 ˃ 50% as heterogeneity between studies. Findings The overall incidence of bacterial contamination was 12.6% (95% CI 0.100, 0.152) among 19,805 bone allografts of 17 studies. The bacterial contamination rate among bone allografts was 10.8% before 2010 and 14.7% in 2010-March 2021. The contamination frequency in Asia, Europe, and Australia was 11.5%, 14.3%, and 5.2%, respectively. Bone contamination rates were higher in cadaver donors (19.9%), retrieval time sampling (13.5%), and swab samples (13.2%) compared to those in living donors (7.5%), implantation time sampling (6.9%), and bone fragments cultures (6.3%). Bacterial contamination was recovered 24.4%, 19.7%, 13.2%, and 21% from tibia, fibula, femoral, and other bones, respectively. Staphylococcus spp. was the predominant isolated bacteria from bones (63.2% of all isolated genera), followed by Propionibacterium spp. (10.6%). Conclusion The high contamination of bone allografts is a health concern, indicating the need for more health monitoring and improvement of standards.

Background During shortages of filtering face pieces (FFP) in a pandemic, it is necessary to implement a method for safe reuse or extended use. Our aim was to develop a simple, inexpensive and ecological method for decontamination of disposable FFPs that preserves filtration efficiency and material integrity. Material and methods Contamination of FFPs (3M Aura 9320+) with SARS-CoV-2 (1.15 × 104 PFUs), Enterococcus faecium (>106 CFUs), and physiological nasopharyngeal flora was performed prior to decontamination by submersion in a solution of 6 % acetic acid and 6 % hydrogen peroxide (6%AA/6%HP solution) over 30 minutes. Material integrity was assessed by testing the filtering efficiency, loss of fit and employing electron microscopy. Results and Discussion Decontamination with the 6%AA/6%HP solution resulted in the complete elimination of SARS-CoV-2, E. faecium and physiological nasopharyngeal flora. Material characterization post-treatment showed neither critical material degradation, loss of fit or reduction of filtration efficiency. Electron microscopy revealed no damage to the fibers, and the rubber bands’ elasticity was not affected by the decontamination procedure. No concerning residuals of the decontamination procedure were found. Conclusion The simple application and widespread availability of 6%AA/6%HP solution for decontaminating disposable FFPs make this solution globally viable, including developing and third world countries.

Exposure of newborns to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) is a public health concern. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of POPs in human milk collected from lactating mothers in Lebanon and to investigate the sociodemographic, nutritional, and other lifestyle determinants. Fifty-four breast milk samples were collected as per World Health Organization guidelines. A survey was used to assess the anthropometric and demographic characteristics of participants. Dietary habits were evaluated based on a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls were measured in milk samples with liquid-liquid extraction and gas chromatography. Among the screened POPs, dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) was the only POP detected in breast milk samples and was found in only 17.9% of the samples, with a mean (SD) of 11.6 (5.0) μg/L and a range of 5.7 to 21.4 μg/L. Prepregnancy body mass index and age were positively associated with DDE contamination in breast milk. Women who consumed cereals at least two times per week had detectable DDE contamination in their breast milk. Consumption of potatoes and beans at least once per week was also associated with DDE contamination. Our study is the first to assess the presence of POPs in breast milk in Lebanon. The benefits of breastfeeding compensate for the low prevalence of DDE in the breast milk. Our findings highlight the high need to implement monitoring policies, good agricultural practices, and education programs for breastfeeding mothers.

The establishment of rapid and efficient contamination detection methods in agricultural fields is of great significance for safeguarding agricultural production and human health, and for ensuring the healthy development of agricultural industries. As a booming analytical method, photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensors, which combine the advantages of electrochemical analysis and optical analysis, have received increasing research attention. Due to the complete separation of the excitation source (light) and the detection signal (current), the background signal of PEC sensors is greatly decreased, and their sensitivity is high. This review aims to cover the advances in PEC sensors for contamination analysis in agricultural fields over the past 5 years, including the analysis of heavy metals, antibiotics, pesticides, and toxins. The future prospects in this field are also discussed.

The present study was conducted to reveal the concentrations and patterns of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in seven species of freshwater aquatic products ( procambarus clarkii, ctenopharyngodon idellus, parabramis pekinensis, hypophthalmichthys molitrix, cyprinus carpioio, aristichthys nobilis, carassius auratus ) collected from freshwater aquaculture farms around Changsha, China. And the OCPs and PCBs in the muscle tissue of the aquatic products were analyzed to assess the dietary intake risk. The mean concentrations of OCPs and PCBs varied between 6.38 - 15.90 and 3.18 - 5.12 ng g -1 wet weight, respectively. Heptachlor and δ-HCH are the main contaminants of OCPs in the tested aquatic products, which account for over 74% of the total OCPs. The PCB52 is the main contaminant of PCBs, which account for over 88% of the total PCBs. The bioaccumulation levels of OCPs and PCBs in the aquatic products depend upon the species of aquatic products. The ctenopharyngodon idellus has the highest contamination levels of OCPs while the hypophthalmichthys molitrix has the highest contamination levels of PCBs. The mean lipid content in the freshwater aquatic products varies from 6.08% to 19.8% (dry weight) and presents a significant correlation with the contents of OCPs and PCBs. The health risk of the freshwater aquatic products is assessed by the hazard ratios and hazard quotient, a carcinogenic risk is found for the consumption of freshwater aquatic products.

Despite their considerable prevalence, dynamics of hospital-associated COVID-19 are still not well understood. We assessed the nature and extent of air- and surface-borne SARS-CoV-2 contamination in hospitals to identify hazards of viral dispersal and enable more precise targeting of infection prevention and control. PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Medrxiv, and Biorxiv were searched for relevant articles until June 1, 2021. In total, 51 observational cross-sectional studies comprising 6258samples were included. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in one in six air and surface samples throughout the hospital and up to 7.62m away from the nearest patients. The highest detection rates and viral concentrations were reported from patient areas. The most frequently and heavily contaminated types of surfaces comprised air outlets and hospital floors. Viable virus was recovered from the air and fomites. Among size-fractionated air samples, only fine aerosols contained viable virus. Aerosol-generating procedures significantly increased (ORair=2.56 (1.46–4.51); ORsurface=1.95 (1.27–2.99)), whereas patient masking significantly decreased air- and surface-borne SARS-CoV-2 contamination (ORair=0.41 (0.25–0.70); ORsurface=0.45 (0.34–0.61)). The nature and extent of hospital contamination indicate that SARS-CoV-2 is likely dispersed conjointly through several transmission routes, including short- and long-range aerosol, droplet, and fomite transmission.

Grain contamination by mycotoxins can cause significantly negative health and economic impact in areas where poor agricultural practices and food insecurity is prevalent. This study was conducted to investigate the current postharvest practices and aflatoxin contamination awareness level amongst maize producers in Jimma Zone, Ethiopia. Semi-structured questionnaires were used for quantitative and qualitative data collection from 90 randomly selected maize producers in two districts through a cross-sectional study design. The study revealed poor postharvest practices due to lack of proper infrastructure. Maize is harvested after maturation with the use of traditional sun drying. Plastic sheets are commonly used to protect harvested maize from rain during field drying. The majority of the respondents reported the use of traditional storage structures (81.1%) with great potential for possible mould proliferation and aflatoxin production. Maize producers of up to 62.2% were ignorant about aflatoxins and up to 26.7% reported the possible usage of aflatoxin contaminated maize in human food preparation and animal feed production. Up to 53.3% of the respondents were ignorant of aflatoxin risks in human health and stability during food processing hence the usage of mouldy maize for tella brewing. Further investigations on aflatoxin levels in maize-based food and beverages, and human exposure studies are needed. Moreover, there is a need to enhance the maize producers’ knowledge on good agricultural practices and mycotoxicosis through awareness programmes.

Supplemental digital content is available in the text., Introduction Avoiding coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) work-related infection in frontline healthcare workers is a major challenge. A massive training program was launched in our university hospital for anesthesia/intensive care unit and operating room staff, aiming at upskilling 2249 healthcare workers for COVID-19 patients' management. We hypothesized that such a massive training was feasible in a 2-week time frame and efficient in avoiding sick leaves. Methods We performed a retrospective observational study. Training focused on personal protective equipment donning/doffing and airway management in a COVID-19 simulated patient. The educational models used were in situ procedural and immersive simulation, peer-teaching, and rapid cycle deliberate practice. Self-learning organization principles were used for trainers' management. Ordinary disease quantity in full-time equivalent in March and April 2020 were compared with the same period in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Results A total of 1668 healthcare workers were trained (74.2% of the target population) in 99 training sessions over 11 days. The median number of learners per session was 16 (interquartile range = 9–25). In the first 5 days, the median number of people trained per weekday was 311 (interquartile range = 124–385). Sick leaves did not increase in March to April 2020 compared with the same period in the 3 preceding years. Conclusions Massive training for COVID-19 patient management in frontline healthcare workers is feasible in a very short time and efficient in limiting the rate of sick leave. This experience could be used in the anticipation of new COVID-19 waves or for rapidly preparing hospital staff for an unexpected major health crisis.

This article analyzes the scientific evidence on the measures adopted by psychiatric hospitals to prevent COVID-19 contamination among hospitalized people. It refers to a literature review in the MEDLINE/PUBMED, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases. There was the incorporation of studies describing measures used to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among patients admitted to psychiatric institutions. The research articles that evaluated patients in partial follow-up at health facilities were excluded. Between 13 selected studies, two thematic categories were established: Measures adopted to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 in the admission of psychiatric patients; Measures adopted to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 during hospitalization of psychiatric patients. There are similarities and differences in the measures adopted by psychiatric hospitals. It was noted that admission and isolation policy for 14 days was a consensus. However, the testing method for screening Sars-CoV-2 differs between the realities. Concerning hospitalization, there is a similarity in the use of technologies in the care of psychiatric patients. In contrast, there is no standardization in the measures taken since, due to their structure; psychiatric hospitals have restrictions on the adoption of distance rules.Cet article analyse les preuves scientifiques sur les mesures adoptées par les hôpitaux psychiatriques pour prévenir la contamination au COVID-19 chez les personnes hospitalisées. Il fait référence à une revue de la littérature dans les bases de données MEDLINE/PUBMED, Web of Science et EMBASE. Il y a eu l’incorporation d’études décrivant les mesures utilisées pour empêcher la propagation du COVID-19 parmi les patients admis dans des établissements psychiatriques. Les articles de recherche évaluant les patients lors d’un suivi partiel dans les établissements de santé ont été exclus. Entre 13 études sélectionnées, deux catégories thématiques ont été établies : les mesures adoptées pour réduire la transmission du COVID-19 lors de l’admission de patients psychiatriques ; mesures adoptées pour réduire la transmission du COVID-19 lors de l’hospitalisation des patients psychiatriques. Il existe des similitudes et des différences dans les mesures adoptées par les hôpitaux psychiatriques. Il a été noté que la politique d’admission et d’isolement pendant 14 jours faisait l’objet d’un consensus. Cependant, la méthode de test pour le dépistage du Sars-CoV-2 diffère selon les réalités. Concernant l’hospitalisation, il existe une similitude dans l’utilisation des technologies dans la prise en charge des patients psychiatriques. En revanche, il n’y a pas de standardisation dans les mesures prises car, en raison de leur structure, les hôpitaux psychiatriques ont des restrictions sur l’adoption de règles de distance.

Background Reducing the blood-culture contamination rate is a constant challenge for health services. This study aimed to analyze whether blood-culture (BC) collection using sterile gloves reduces the contamination rate when compared to the non-sterile gloves, and to compare baseline and intervention periods. Methods A randomized clinical trial, performed in an intensive care unit in Brazil and paired in two groups: sterile (BCs obtained with modified sterile technique: only sterile gloves; no fenestrated drape or dedicated sterile collection kit) and clean (clean technique: usual care with non-sterile gloves). Two paired blood samples were obtained from each patient by trained and calibrated nurses. BCs were processed by conventional microbiological methods and the results were issued by blinded microbiologists. Results There was no difference (P = 1.00) in the contamination rate of BC between the sterile (1%) and clean (1%) groups. However, there was a significant difference (P = 0.05; relative risk: 0.17; 95% confidence interval: 0.04-0.70) in the contamination rate between baseline (6.1%; 20/330) and intervention (1%; 2/200). Conclusions This study suggests that the aseptic care provided in obtaining samples is more important than the sterile technique itself, and highlights the value of standardizing the practices, qualification and calibration of phlebotomists.

Background/purpose Sealer residues on dentin may affect bonding to restorative materials. This study aimed to evaluate the bond strength to sealer-contaminated dentin after using different cleaning protocols. Materials and methods Freshly extracted bovine incisors were prepared and exposed the buccal pulp chamber dentin, obtaining segments measuring 5 mm × 5 mm with a height of 3 mm. The segments were randomly distributed into 4 groups (n = 7) according to different protocols. Control group: no contamination was performed. In the three experimental groups, the segments were contaminated with epoxy resin-based sealer for 5 min, and different cleaning protocols were performed. Acetone group: acetone-saturated cotton pellets were used to wipe the sealer. Ultrasound group: ultrasonic ET-20D tip cleaning. Acetone combined with ultrasound group: cleaning with acetone-saturated cotton pellets and ultrasonic tip. All segments were bonded using a self-etch adhesive. Two samples in each group were scanned by swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) to evaluate sealer residues. A microtensile test was performed on the remaining 5 samples, which were built up with composite resin. Results Sealer residues were observed in 3 of 14 (21.4%) sections of acetone group by SS-OCT. Compared to the control, ultrasound alone or in combination with acetone preserved the bond strength (P > .05). The ultrasound group exhibited the highest bond strength (39.38 MPa), which differed from that of the acetone group, which provided the lowest bond strength (32.88 MPa) (P Conclusion Cleaning epoxy resin-based sealer-contaminated dentin surfaces using ultrasound or combined with acetone could preserve the bond strength.

Background Public drinking water can be an important source exposure to lead, which can affect children’s cognitive development and academic performance. Few studies have looked at the impact of lead exposures from community water supplies or their impact on school achievements. We examined the association between annual community water lead levels (WLLs) and children’s academic performances at the school district level. Methods We matched the 90th percentile WLLs with the grade 3–8 standardized test scores from the Stanford Education Data Archive on Geographic School Districts by geographic location and year. We used multivariate linear regression and adjusted for urbanicity, race, socioeconomic characteristics, school district, grade, and year. We also explored potential effect measure modifications and lag effects. Results After adjusting for potential confounders, a 5 μg/L increase in 90th percentile WLLs in a GSD was associated with a 0.00684 [0.00021, 0.01348] standard deviation decrease in the average math test score in the same year. No association was found for English Language Arts. Conclusions We found an association between the annual fluctuation of WLLs and math test scores in Massachusetts school districts, after adjusting for confounding by urbanicity, race, socioeconomic factors, school district, grade, and year. The implications of a detectable effect of WLLs on academic performance even at the modest levels evident in MA are significant and timely. Persistent efforts should be made to further reduce lead in drinking water.

Acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCP) do not provide reliable water velocity measurements near the sea surface or bottom because acoustic sidelobe reflections from the boundary contaminate the Doppler velocity measurements. The apparent depth of the center of the sidelobe reflection is zsl = ha[1 − cos(θ)], where ha is the distance from the ADCP acoustic head to the sea surface and θ is the ADCP beam angle. However, sidelobe contamination extends one and a half ADCP bins below zsl as the range gating of the acoustic return causes overlap between adjacent ADCP bins. Consequently, the contaminated region z < zsl + 3Δz/2 is deeper than traditionally suggested, with a dependence on bin size Δz. Direct observations confirming both the center depth of the sidelobe reflection and the depth of contamination are presented for six bottom-mounted, upward-looking ADCPs. The sidelobe reflection is isolated by considering periods of weak wind stresses when the sea surface is smooth and there is nearly perfect reflection of the main beams away from the ADCP and hence little acoustic return from the main beams to the ADCP.

Introduction Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) can be a useful resource to treat acute respiratory failure (ARF), which occurs in patients with COVID-19. However, it is important to consider that there are still no clinical studies that have verified the safety of its use in increase of contamination. Areas covered Given the potential benefits and simultaneous concerns over the use of NIV in patients with COVID-19, further inquiry is necessary to reach a clinical consensus and provide recommendations for safe use, avoiding contamination. In this context, this narrative review, which included articles published in the Embase, SciELO, PEDro, Pubmed and Cochrane up to August 2021, is focused to evaluate available studies related to interfaces, types of circuits, recommended filters, cares for the environment and protective factors for NIV use in patients with COVID-19. Expert opinion The studies analyzed recommend that the use of NIV can be safe: 1) with equipment that allows the use of the helmet as a safer interface; 2) with double circuit and antimicrobial filter in the expiratory branch; 3) in an environment that allows negative pressure, reducing the dispersion of aerosol particles in the environment; 4) the health team must use the recommended PPE to avoid contamination.

Transmission of COVID-19 through close contact and droplets is well established, but the influence of aerosol and surface contamination remains to be determined. Literature is scarce and inconsistent about the viable virus particles free-distance from infected patients, as well as about different swabbing methods for surface contamination evaluation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the most sensitive method for the assessment of surface contamination, classify the likelihood of environmental contamination in risk zones and compare the environmental contamination between oxygenation and ventilatory support.Swabs from potentially contaminated surfaces in a COVID-19 ward, with patients treated with different types of oxygen and ventilatory support, were collected. Three types of swabs were compared in order to evaluate the most sensitive collection method. For risk zone categorization, areas were divided according to the distance from the patient.Of the 63 swabs collected, 17 (27%) tested positive for the presence of SARS-CoV-2. The highest positivity rate was observed with the sterile premoistened swab with saline (n = 8; 38%), but without statistically significant differences. The highest number of positive samples were collected from the high-risk zones, specifically those located one meter from the patient (n = 13; 48%), with statistically significant differences. Only the rooms of patients supported with non-invasive ventilation or high-flow nasal cannula had evidence of bedroom contamination, with 45% and 27% of swab positivity, with statistically significant differences.Our findings favour the premoistened swab without transport medium for surface contamination assessment, even though without statistical differences. A statistically significant trend supporting the division in risk zones, according to the distance from the patient, was also identified. The higher positivity rate from the non-invasive ventilation and high-flow nasal cannula bedrooms suggests a significant association between ventilatory strategies and surface contamination, probably due to higher particle dispersion.Our findings support the use of the sterile premoistened swab without preservation medium, the classification of risk areas considering the distance from the patient, and the variability of RNA dispersion between oxygenation and ventilatory support.Introdução: A transmissão da COVID-19 através do contacto e gotículas está bem estabelecida, mas a importância da sua transmissão através do aerossol e da contaminação das superfícies permanece por determinar. A literatura é escassa e inconsistente em relação à distância mínima livre de partículas víricas, desde um paciente, e também acerca dos mais adequados métodos de colheita de zaragatoas para avaliação da contaminação das superfícies. Os objectivos deste estudo foram avaliar qual o método mais sensível para avaliação da contaminação de superfícies, classificar a contaminação ambiental de acordo com zonas de risco e comparar a contaminação ambiental sob diferentes dispositivos para oxigenoterapia e suporte ventilatório. Material e Métodos: Realizamos colheitas de zaragatoas em superfícies potencialmente contaminadas numa ala COVID-19, onde se encontravam doentes sob diferentes dispositivos para oxigenoterapia e suporte ventilatório. Para avaliar o método de recolha mais sensível para verificação da contaminação das superfícies, comparámos três tipos de zaragatoas. Para a classificação das zonas de risco, dividimos as áreas de acordo com a distância ao doente. Resultados: Das 63 zaragatoas, 17 (27%) testaram positivo para SARS-CoV-2 (27%). A maior positividade foi observada na zaragatoa estéril pré-humedecida com soro fisiológico (n = 8; 38%), mas sem significância estatística. O maior número de amostras positivas obteve-se nas zonas de alto risco, especialmente aquelas a um metro do paciente (n = 13; 48%), com diferenças significativas. Apenas os quartos dos doentes sob ventilação não invasiva e cânula nasal de alto fluxo tiveram evidência de contaminação com 45% e 27% de positividade das zaragatoas, e significância estatística. Discussão: Os nossos resultados favorecem a zaragatoa estéril pré-humedecida sem meio de preservação para avaliação da contaminação das superfícies, embora sem significância estatística. Os resultados suportam também com significância estatística a divisão em zonas de risco de acordo com a distância ao doente. A maior positividade obtida nos quartos dos pacientes que se encontravam a utilizar ventilação não invasiva e cânula nasal de alto fluxo sugere uma associação, com significância, entre as estratégias ventilatória e a contaminação ambiental, provavelmente relacionada com uma maior dispersão das partículas. Conclusão: Os nossos resultados apoiam o uso da zaragatoa estéril pré-humedecida sem meio de preservação, a classificação das áreas de risco considerando a distância ao doente, e a variabilidade da dispersão do RNA entre diferentes dispositivos para oxigenoterapia e ventilação.

Owing to their roles in the arsenic (As) biogeochemical cycle, microorganisms and plants offer significant potential for developing innovative biotechnological applications able to remediate As pollutions. This possible use in bioremediation processes and phytomanagement is based on their ability to catalyse various biotransformation reactions leading to, e.g. the precipitation, dissolution, and sequestration of As, stabilisation in the root zone and shoot As removal. On the one hand, genomic studies of microorganisms and their communities are useful in understanding their metabolic activities and their interaction with As. On the other hand, our knowledge of molecular mechanisms and fate of As in plants has been improved by laboratory and field experiments. Such studies pave new avenues for developing environmentally friendly bioprocessing options targeting As, which worldwide represents a major risk to many ecosystems and human health.

Bacterial adhesion is the first stage of biofilm formation. Adhesion and subsequent biofilm formation of foodborne pathogenic bacteria on food surface cause cross contamination, food spoilage and even diseases. Mature biofilm exhibits higher resistance to disinfectants or antimicrobials compared to initial biofilm. The initial adherent cells are very unstable, low resistant and can be easily eliminated from food surface. In recent years, plant extracts as green antimicrobials alternatives have drawn much attention of researchers in anti-adhesion. Furthermore, the combination of natural extracts with other agents (e.g. surfactant, nanoparticle, phage) at low concentration effectively restrain the adhesion of foodborne pathogenic bacteria. Understanding anti-adhesion mechanism is the key to increase the efficiency of natural antimicrobial agents and enhance their application in fresh produce industry. In this review, we summarized recent studies about the factors affecting bacterial adhesion, anti-adhesion mechanism and applications of natural antimicrobial agents to control adhesion and subsequent biofilm formation for enhancing food safety and food quality.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the monthly contamination rate of pathogenic Escherichia coli, a major cause of food poisoning, in vegetables sold in agricultural wholesale markets, wh...

Some in-orbital materials of spacecraft will degas under space environments to form molecular contamination, which will be deposited on the surface of spacecraft to degrade the performance of some sensitive materials or devices. The space ultraviolet (UV) radiation may affect the deposition process of molecular contamination to cause photochemical reactions or condensation of molecular contamination on sensitive surface, and results in the enhancement of contamination effect. In this paper, a physical modeling is proposed and ground simulation test is performed to investigate the influence of UV radiation on the molecular contamination effect of spacecraft. Some physical processes such as adsorption, desorption, and photochemical reactions induced by UV radiation is comprehensively considered in modeling, the relationship between the deposition amount of contamination and the time of contamination, the temperature of the deposition surface and the dose of UV radiation have been obtained. An experimental apparatus for molecular contamination deposition under UV radiation is built, and two kinds of space organic materials are used to test their contamination with and without UV radiation. The experimental results show that UV radiation has a significant enhancement effect on the amount of contamination deposition. It is also found that this enhancement effect linearly increases with the increase of ultraviolet dose. According to the experimental data, the parameters in the physical model are determined. The maximum of UV enhancement coefficient can be up to 1.99 for silicone rubber and 4.42 for cable insulation within the experimental temperatures. The modeling and experimental results can be used as references for the design and control of spacecraft molecular contamination.

The assessment of impact of oil production economic activities on land pollution in Russia contributes to evolutionary management decision making. Oil industrial pollution affects negatively flora and fauna. Thus, its important to identify the level of its exposure and danger, the site of contamination. A system approach is needed. When studying the environment, its necessary to consider the presence of risk situations and stochastic irreversible changes. Its essential to identify the nature and type of soil contamination with petroleum products using high-tech tools, intellectual procedures. The work considers modeling of such situation, forecasting and identification of oil contaminants. The submodel of optimal termination of monitoring is also considered. Ending monitoring of environmental optimization will result in lower monitoring costs, since monitoring oilcontaminated environments is an expensive and complex technological mechanism, often requiring satellite data. The proposed algorithm for modeling and system analysis is based on situational modeling. Evolutionary modeling allows to adapt the procedure (methodology) of forecasting and assessment to environmental risk factors. It increases the accuracy (formalization and evidence) and completeness of conclusions, the efficiency of situation analysis, which affects manageability of risk both for the oil complex and for individual enterprise in the industry. The results of the research may be used for development of software tools, in particular expert and predictive systems. Situational models are needed when oil companies are solving multi-criteria and multifactor problems.

Establishing a cause-and-effect relationship for an adverse event is one of the key steps in preventing them and involves multiple people, resources, and steps, thus requiring a root cause analysis. Here, we describe a root cause analysis performed in the nuclear medicine department for an event involving Na131I contamination. Oral administration of Na131I in a capsule minimizes the risk of contamination and spills. However, the patient must be able to swallow a capsule. Na131I in capsule form is currently in widespread use for treatment of hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer. Na131I in liquid form is rarely available immediately on demand and must be ordered at least 24-48 h in advance of the planned administration. The events leading to the incident, immediate remedial steps taken, and subsequent root cause analysis are described. The corrective actions taken after the root cause analysis, as well as the subsequent effectiveness of these actions, are mentioned. There may be one or multiple causes for an adverse event. It is important to identify the root cause. Corrective actions derived from the root cause can help prevent similar adverse events in the future. Therapeutic procedures in nuclear medicine involve unsealed radioactive sources, further adding a separate layer of immediate steps and reporting to the root cause analysis itself.

The survival of organisms is threatened with a variety of pollutants and chemical compounds and population growth. Natural phenomena and human activities, especially industrial activities increase contamination of water, soil and air. Population growth leads to increased exploitation of the sea and oceans, thus the consumption of seafood increases. In addition, the main food of the people in some areas is fish. Consumption of fish has numerous benefits to healthy for humans, but the existence of some heavy metals including lead, cadmium, and etc. may cause toxicity to marine organisms. The degree of heavy metal toxicity depends on their chemical form of metals. Some forms of metals are rapidly excreted and do not have the opportunity to be absorbed and stored in body tissues, accordingly they are not very toxic, while some forms of metals are highly toxic and lethal. These forms are slowly excreted from metals and have the ability to be absorbed and accumulated in fish muscles and other organs. Heavy metals cause harmful effects such as carcinogenesis, malformations, damage to the nervous system, damage to the reproductive system and infertility in men, liver failure and cardiovascular disease and so on. Therefore, in this review focused on concentration of heavy metals in fish muscle is essential to ensure the safety of this type of food.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are lipophilic chemicals that are normally formed as by-products of fossil fuel combustion and residues of coal processing. They are ubiquitous as contaminants from petroleum and coal utilization and are of environmental and occupational health concern because of their toxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic properties.

Environmental pollution and food contamination are as old as the civilization itself. It is the consequence of the development of civilization, over utilization of nature, industrialization and in fact a price for the progress. It is highly prominent in Dhaka city. Air pollution is mainly due to the vehicle emission, industrial discharge and burning of fossil fuel. The water resource of Dhaka becomes a major health threat due to arsenic contamination, inadequate household/industrial/medical waste disposal and industrial effluent management. Food contamination came from the commercialism of business people who are doing this knowingly to maximize profit. Necessary steps are to be taken to protect the environment for our own existence. This paper reveals chemical pollution and contamination issues of Dhaka city, the capital of Bangladesh. Purpose of the study: Brief review of chemical induced pollution and contamination, their consequences and control. Healthcare providers/Policy makers have a major role play to concerned field. Materials and Methods: Comprehensive literature search followed by consulting healthcare professionals about environmental pollution and food contamination. Hospital, clinic and company personnel, newspaper journalists, NGO workers given their valuable suggestions and asked help for necessary books, journal, newsletters. A few western magazine and newspapers also observed to get necessary concern. Projections were based on public life pattern, their food habits, pollution and contamination sources, waste disposal features of urban life as well as industry and hospital waste disposals. Results and Discussions: Pollution and adulteration are the most notorious enemy of mankind. Civilization has its own drawback that even causing destruction of itself. Very few people raised voice on this but crippled by the facts of commercialism. The scope of this article is limited to chemical pollution of air and water, medical or household waste products and food contaminants and adulterants. A few discussions based on real life experience and recent studies or reports from various journals and news articles are summarized here. Findings: Both general people and the old system, are responsible for this unlivable condition of Dhaka city. Population is not the sole for this instance. A sense of poor rules and regulation is always raised everywhere. Negligence is becoming a contagious disease contaminating illiterate to well educated, all kind of people. Research limitations: Many articles and documents found in concerned area of research, but the scope of this research is on its focus point chemical hazards and burdens of Dhaka city. Still the most important aspect is covered, but fact is less amount of recent data found in few areas. Practical Implication: The language of this article is too simple to understand by people with simple literacy. Journalists, doctors, students, nurses, pharmacists, public representatives, policy makers and regulatory authorities have to acquire much from this article. Social Implication: Any article or research is based on the think beneficence for mankind, at least going ahead from the present situation, overwhelming problems and measures. The article should create a direction for the future policy makers of both government and other sectors to review the frustrating situation of chemical pollutions and food contaminants of Dhaka, along with the whole Bangladesh. Again, world business is moving to Asian countries, Bangladesh will be a major business hub within next few decades. This article should remind policy makers that we should not forget mankind, giving places to industrialization and development.

Rooibos tea is brewed using Aspalathus linearis plant material sensitive to environmental contamination. This review covers the safety data from preclinical experiments as well as human studies and delivers a report on its hepatic activity. In vitro tea investigation reveals antioxidative and anti-mutagenic features and ability to modulate microsomal enzymes. In rodent research, it exerts protective or neutral impact on liver functions and morphology, yet several human case reports suggest possible acute hepatic damage. Summarizing rooibos consumption seems to be safe in terms of hepatotoxicity; however, there may be designated a group of consumers with higher risk of liver irritation. The contamination of plant material may contribute to herb-induced liver injury. Due to the impact on CYPs, there is a possible risk of herb-drug interactions affecting bioavailability of some co-administered medicines. Caution should be exercised in patients receiving the treatment with allopathic medicines to avoid untoward alteration of drug plasma concentration.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to measure the concentrations of heavy (Pb, Cu, Fe, Ni, and Zn) metals in water, soil, and frequently edible leafy vegetables in the Iranian population and assessed the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risk in consumers. METHODS: The samples of soil, water, and vegetables were collected from forms near the Tehran-Mashhad highway in Neyshabur, Iran. The content of heavy metals in the samples was analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. RESULTS: The average concentrations of Pb, Cu, Fe, Ni, and Zn were 5.56, 3.35, 4.74, 2.95, and 5.27 mg/kg, respectively. Lead concentration in all of the vegetable samples was higher than the permissible value endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO) / Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). In contrast, the concentrations of all the other heavy metals in the samples were less than the maximum permissible levels recommended by WHO/FAO. Similarly, the water and soil samples were highly contaminated by Lead. The hazard quotient (HQ) of all the heavy metals was distinctively less than one, and it did not exceed 0.3 in any of the age groups. Furthermore, the carcinogenic risk for nickel was only higher than the recommended value, especially in women. CONCLUSION: While it seems that consuming vegetables has no acute health risk related to heavy metals, long-term and regular ingestion of the vegetables are likely to make cancer risk. Besides, due to the high concentration of Pb in soil and vegetables, regular and integrated assessment of heavy metals in soil, water, and food is necessary.

Extant research on the management of environmental threats in risk communities highlights the control that state actors and other elites exercise over environmental risk assessments. However, less ...

Food can be a carrier for pathogenic agents that can disease in consumers (foodborne disease). Chicken meat is one of the products from livestock which has a high consumption rate, because besides being easy to obtain, the growth of chickens is fast, and the price is also more affordable compared to large livestock types. Chicken meat is an excellent medium for microbial growth and makes it a perishable food ingredient. Foodborne illness is a disease caused by pathogenic microorganisms that contaminate food, such as Salmonella spp, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli (E.coli). Salmonella spp infection can cause salmonellosis which irritates the digestive tract and many of them result in death. This study aims to assess the presence and number of pathogenic microorganisms Salmonella spp in broiler chicken sold in traditional and modern markets in Bandar Lampung. The research was conducted by purposive sampling of 30 chicken meat samples. Broiler chicken carcass samples were taken as whole and then stored in sterile plastic, labeled and put into a cool box filled with ice. The variables observed in this study were the presence and number of Salmonella bacteria. The data obtained were analyzed descriptively. The results of Salmonella spp examination on chicken meat samples in traditional markets in Bandar Lampung City showed a positive in 1 (one) sample or 6.7%, while in modern markets Salmonella was not found. The presence of Salmonella in chicken meat is thought to be due to contamination from the water used during the process of slaughtering and preparing the carcass, contamination from the carcass slaughtering and selling environment which does not apply good sanitary hygiene and poor personal hygiene of the traders. The conclusion obtained is that the number of Salmonella spp in chicken meat in traditional markets is not in accordance with SNI 7388 of 2009 concerning the Maximum Limit of Microbial Contamination (BMCM) in fresh meat.

Ochratoxins (OTs) with nephrotoxic, immunosuppressive, teratogenic, and carcinogenic properties are thermostable fungal subordinate metabolites. OTs contamination can occur before or after harvesting, during the processing, packing, distribution, and storage of food. Mold development and mycotoxin contamination can occur in any crop or cereal that has not been stored properly for long periods of time and is subjected to high levels of humidity and temperature. Ochratoxin A (OTA) presents a significant health threat to creatures and individuals. There is also a concern of how human interaction with OTA will also express the remains of OTA from feedstuffs into animal-derived items. Numerous approaches have been studied for the reduction of the OTA content in agronomic products. These methods can be classified into two major classes: inhibition of OTA adulteration and decontamination or detoxification of food. A description of the various mycotoxins, the organism responsible for the development of mycotoxins, and their adverse effects are given. In the current paper, the incidence of OTA in various fodder and food materials is discussed, which is accompanied by a brief overview of the OTA mode of synthesis, physicochemical properties, toxic effects of various types of ochratoxins, and OTA decontamination adaptation methods. To our knowledge, we are the first to report on the structure of many naturally accessible OTAs and OTA metabolism. Finally, this paper seeks to be insightful and draw attention to dangerous OTA, which is too frequently neglected and overlooked in farm duplication from the list of discrepancy studies.

Salmonella contamination is a critical problem in poultry farms, with serious consequences for both animals and food products. The aim of this study is to investigate the use of phage cocktails to reduce Salmonella contamination in poultry farms. Within the scope of the study, Salmonella phages were isolated from chicken stool. After the host range of phages was determined, morphological characterization was performed through transmission electron microscopy analysis. Then, replication parameters and adsorption rates were determined by one-step growth curves. After that, phage cocktail was prepared, and its effectiveness was tested in three environments, which were drinking water, shavings, and plastic surfaces. The results obtained have demonstrated that the phage cocktail can reduce Salmonella count up to 2.80 log10 units in drinking water, up to 2.30 log10 units on shavings, and 2.31 log10 units on plastic surfaces. It has been determined that phage cocktails could be a successful alternative in reducing Salmonella contamination in poultry environment. This work is the first study to investigate the use of phage cocktails for reducing Salmonella contamination in poultry water and on shavings, and it is presumed that the results obtained will contribute to the fight against pathogens by making them applicable to poultry farms.

After nuclear accidents, people can be contaminated internally via ingestion, inhalation and via intact skin or wounds. The assessment of absorbed, committed doses after internal exposure is based on activity measurement by in vivo or in vitro bioassay. Estimation of dose following internal contamination is dependent on understanding the nature and form of the radionuclide. Direct counting methods that directly measure γ-rays coming from within the body or bioassay methods that measure the amount of radioactive materials in urine or feces are used to estimate the intake, which is required for calculating internal exposure doses. The interpretation of these data in terms of intake and the lifetime committed dose requires knowledge or making assumptions about a number of parameters (time, type of exposure, route of the exposure, physical, biological and chemical characteristics) and their biokinetics inside the body. Radioactive materials incorporated into the body emit radiation within the body. Accumulation in some specific organs may occur depending on the types of radioactive materials. Decorporation therapy is that acceleration of the natural rate of elimination of the contaminant will reduce the amount of radioactivity retained in the body. This article presents an overview of treatment of radiological contamination after internal contamination.

CE credit: For CE credit, you can access the test for this article, as well as additional JNMT CE tests, online at https://www.snmmilearningcenter.org. Complete the test online no later than March 2025. Your online test will be scored immediately. You may make 3 attempts to pass the test and must answer 75% of the questions correctly to receive Continuing Education Hour (CEH) credit. Credit amounts can be found in the SNMMI Learning Center Activity. SNMMI members will have their CEH credit added to their VOICE transcript automatically; nonmembers will be able to print out a CE certificate upon successfully completing the test. The online test is free to SNMMI members; nonmembers must pay $15.00 by credit card when logging onto the website to take the test. α-emitting radionuclides provide an effective means of delivering large radiation doses to targeted treatment locations. (223)RaCl(2) is Food and Drug Administration–approved for treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, and (225)Ac ((225)Ac-lintuzumab) radiolabeled antibodies have been shown to be beneficial for patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In recent years, there has been increasing use of α-emitters in theranostic agents with both small- and large-molecule constructs. The proper precautionary means for their use and surveying documentation of these isotopes in a clinical setting are an essential accompaniment to these treatments. Methods: Patient treatment data collected over a 3-y period, as well as regulatory requirements and safety practices, are described. Commonly used radiation instruments were evaluated for their ability to identify potential radioactive material spills and contamination events during a clinical administration of (225)Ac. These instruments were placed at 0.32 cm from a 1.0-cm (225)Ac disk source for measurement purposes. Radiation background values, efficiencies, and minimal detectable activities were measured and calculated for each type of detector. Results: The median external measured dose rate from (223)RaCl(2) patients (n = 611) was 2.5 μSv h(−1) on contact and 0.2 μSv h(−1) at 1 m immediately after administration. Similarly, (225)Ac-lintuzumab (n = 19) patients had median external dose rates of 2.0 μSv h(−1) on contact and 0.3 μSv h(−1) at 1 m. For the measurement of (225)Ac samples, a liquid scintillation counter was found to have the highest overall efficiency (97%), whereas a ZnS α-probe offered the lowest minimal detectable activity at 3 counts per minute. Conclusion: In this article, we report data from 630 patients who were undergoing treatment with the α-emitting isotopes (223)Ra and (225)Ac. Although α-emitters have the ability to deliver a higher internal radiation dose to the exposed tissues than can other unsealed radionuclides, they typically present minimal concerns about external dose rate. Additionally, α-radiation can be efficiently detected with appropriate radiation instrumentation, such as a liquid scintillation counter or ZnS probe, which should be prioritized when surveying for spills of α-emitters.

In recent years, it has been shown that food contact materials can be a potential source of microplastics (MP). Recently, it was reported that more than 16 million polypropylene (PP) particles L-1 may be released from infant feeding bottles (IFBs) made of PP. In the present study seven different IFBs were investigated by the same method used in the aforementioned publication. In our tests, however, only one IFB showed a level of MP above the limit of detection. More importantly, the MP detected were not of the same material as the bottle and are more likely the result of contamination. In addition, there was a notable difference in released MP particles when the water simulant was filtered for µ-Raman spectroscopy at hot temperature (70°C) instead of filtering it after cooling down to room temperature. Thermal desorption gas chromatography mass spectrometry showed that these differences may be the result of migration and precipitation of additives such as fatty acid esters, often used as release agents in bottle production. These observations, that migrating additives could result in false positive errors for MP, indicate the need for critical consideration when polymers have been subjected to heat.

One of the major environmental problems today is hydrocarbons contamination resulting from activities related to the petrochemical industry. Accidental releases of petroleum products are of particular concern in to the environment hydrocarbons compounds have been known to belong to the family of carcinogenic and neurotoxin organic pollutants. The use of plants to clean up this contaminated site is a promising technology and the ability of the plants to germinate and grow in petroleum-contaminated soil differs due to plants species as well as petroleum hydrocarbons types. In this study, total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) were determined in Kyllinga pumila and Spirogyra longata growing at Nigerian national petroleum corporation (NNPC) Jos Depot. The chemical analysis was carried out with the aid of Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) detector, the result showed that Spirongyra longata could germinate and grow in petroleum products contaminated site with TPH level of 6881.98595 ppm and Kyllinga pumila did not survived in the same site with TPH level of 9536. 88801 ppm.

The release of antibiotics into the environment from agricultural industries has received tremendous attention in recent years. Nonpoint source contamination of the terrestrial environment by these compounds can result from fertilisation of agricultural soils with manure. The presence of antibiotics and their metabolites in manure may pose a threat to agro-ecosystems. This may result in the emergence of antibiotic resistance bacteria in humans through the food chain and this is a major concern globally at the moment. Therefore, monitoring of manure for antibiotic residues is of vital importance in order to assess the risks of environmental pollution to human health by these drugs. Several sample pre-treatment techniques have been developed for the extraction of antibiotic residues from complex matrices including manure over the years. Despite new developments in recent years in separation science where the common trend is miniaturisation and green approaches, solid-phase extraction is still the most widely used technique in the extraction of antibiotics from agricultural wastes such as manure. In view of this, the aim of this review was to give a critical overview of studies that have been conducted in the past 6 years on the extraction of antibiotic residues from manure employing solid-phase extraction based on Oasis HLB and Strata-X. Adsorption mechanisms of these sorbents were also briefly discussed.

Pesticide residues has become a serious environmental concern due to the intensification of agricultural production, its universal use and the risk of contamination. It is an issue that is inserted...

The current study considered the distribution of trace elements in snow cover taking into account the functional zoning of the territory of Berezniki-Solikamsk industrial hub, Perm Region, Russia. The concentrations of 22 trace elements were determined in the dissolved phase of snowmelt using ICP-MS method. On the basis of on the background approach, it was found that Ni, Se, Cu, and Sn are actively accumulated in the snow cover. Snowmelt surface runoff during snow melting period significantly contributes to the total watershed discharge of rivers; therefore, the compliance with the Russian fishery quality standards was assessed. It was found that meltwater is the source of Cu, Mn, Se, Zn, V in surface waters. Significant concentrations of Pb, Cd, W, As, Se in snow are characteristic of conditionally background sites in comparison with average values of global concentrations of dissolved trace elements in river waters, and Se, W, Pb, Ni, As, Cd are characteristic of all functional zones. This study presented the possible sources of priority pollutants. The greatest technogenic impact was observed in the area of transport infrastructure development. Upon that, recreational and residential functional zones also experience significant anthropogenic impact. In order to create a comfortable and healthy urban environment it is necessary to implement the measures to restore these areas.

Water distribution Networks (WDNs) are one of the most important infrastructures for modern society. Due to accidental or malicious reasons, water contamination incidents have been repeatedly reported all over the world, which not only disrupt the water supply but also endanger public health. To ensure the safety of WDNs, water quality sensors are deployed across the WDNs for real-time contamination detection and source identification. In the literature, various methods have been employed to improve the performance of contamination source identification (CSI) and recent studies show that there is a great potential to tackle the CSI problem by deep learning models. The success of deep learning based CSI methods often requires a large size of training samples being collected. In real-world situations, the number of contamination events occurring in a single WDN is rather small, especially for a newly built WDN. However, the existing CSI methods in the literature mostly focus on the study of training and applying models on the same WDNs and the knowledge of CSI gained from one WDN cannot be reused by a different WDN. To these ends, based on the application of graph convolutional networks, this paper provides a solution for cross-network CSI that can transfer the CSI knowledge learned from one WDN to a different WDN. Empirically, based on a benchmark WDN in the task of contamination source identification, we show that the proposed cross-network CSI method can achieve comparable accuracy even trained on a different WDN.