Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Wajid Syed, Ayesha Iqbal, Nasir A. Siddiqui, Ramzi A. Mothana, Omer Noman
Summary: This study compares the attitudes, views, and factors influencing drug abuse among pharmacy and nursing students at a university in Saudi Arabia. The results show that joy-seeking, access to drugs, and family issues are the major reasons for drug abuse. Family size and father's education significantly affect the students' attitudes scores.
MEDICINA-LITHUANIA
(2022)
Article
Substance Abuse
Li Eriksson, Sarah Bryant, Samara McPhedran, Paul Mazerolle, Richard Wortley
Summary: This study found that a high proportion of homicide offenders in Australia had problematic substance use in the year preceding the offense, which was associated with factors such as adverse childhood experiences, criminal involvement, low socio-economic status, and low self-regulation.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xialu Lin, Phil M. Choi, Jack Thompson, Timothy Reeks, Rory Verhagen, Benjamin J. Tscharke, Elissa O'Malley, Katja M. Shimko, Xiong Guo, Kevin Thomas, Jake W. O'Brien
Summary: The study assessed the in-sample stability of selected pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs in wastewater under various conditions, revealing that some substances are unstable in untreated wastewater while others are relatively stable. Further research is needed to investigate the stability of different substances under different conditions.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Andrea Estevez-Danta, Lubertus Bijlsma, Ricardo Capela, Rafael Cela, Alberto Celma, Felix Hernandez, Unax Lertxundi, Joao Matias, Rosa Montes, Gorka Orive, Ailette Prieto, Miguel M. Santos, Rosario Rodil, Jose Benito Quintana
Summary: This study investigated the use of illicit drugs and licit substances of abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in several locations in Spain and Portugal using wastewater-based epidemiology. The results showed widespread use of substances such as cannabis and cocaine, with limited use of methamphetamine. The study also confirmed two instances of ecstasy dumping in the sewage network.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Nursing
Stephanie Penta, Alyssa DeAngelis, Holly Raymond, Bojana Vucenic, Victoria Kay, Hollie Gladysz, Catherine McCarron, Katherine Holshausen
Summary: This article introduces two internal strategies implemented by a hospital in a medium-sized city in Canada to address the issue of illicit substance use on hospital property. These strategies, the unit-based Green-Yellow-Red procedure and the hospital-wide Management of Illicit Substances protocol, effectively mitigate the potential dangers of exposure to illicit substances for staff and patients.
JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC AND MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Hari Prabhath Tummala, Robert R. Bies, Murali Ramanathan
Summary: An innovative pharmacometrics approach was used to model the progression of illicit substance use by analyzing real-world data from the AddHealth survey, finding that active drug use was more prevalent in males and increased in adolescence and college years.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Yi-Hsin Lai, Kun-Hua Lee, Ting-Wei Huang
Summary: Mindfulness-based relapse prevention (MBRP) is an effective intervention for reducing the likelihood of relapse among individuals with illicit drug abuse issues. In this randomized clinical trial, the MBRP program was applied once a week for 8 weeks to participants in one community treatment center in Taiwan. The intervention resulted in significantly decreased depression, anxiety, and positive outcome expectancies of drug use compared to the control group. The findings suggest that mindfulness is beneficial for regulating emotions and reducing drug addiction severity.
CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Gaia Giordano, Mirko Mattia, Lucie Biehler-Gomez, Michele Boracchi, Stefania Tritella, Emanuela Maderna, Alessandro Porro, Massimiliano Marco Corsi Romanelli, Antonia Francesca Franchini, Paolo Maria Galimberti, Fabrizio Slavazzi, Francesco Sardanelli, Domenico Di Candia, Cristina Cattaneo
Summary: In this study, toxicological analyses were performed on preserved brain tissue and bone samples from 17th century patients of Ospedale Maggiore, a leading hospital in Milan. The results have provided insights into the medical treatments and drug administration during that time.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Paulina Borgul, Karolina Sobczak, Karolina Sipa, Konrad Rudnicki, Slawomira Skrzypek, Anna Trynda, Lukasz Poltorak
Summary: The study demonstrates the potential of electrochemical sensing in detecting illegal drugs, and presents a sensing platform capable of detecting heroin in low sample volumes by analyzing the interfacial behavior of heroin in different environments.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lubertus Bijlsma, Yolanda Pico, Vicente Andreu, Alberto Celma, Andrea Estevez-Danta, Iria Gonzalez-Marino, Felix Hernandez, Miren Lopez de Alda, Ester Lopez-Garcia, Rosa Maria Marce, Manuel Miro, Rosa Montes, Unai Perez de San Roman-Landa, Elena Pitarch, Eva Pocurull, Cristina Postigo, Ailette Prieto, Andreu Rico, Rosario Rodil, Yolanda Valcarcel, Mireia Ventura, Jose Benito Quintana
Summary: The data obtained from wastewater analysis can provide rapid insights into illicit drug consumption at the community level. A national wastewater monitoring program was implemented in Spain to understand spatial differences and trends in drug use, with cannabis and cocaine being the most commonly consumed drugs in the country. Regional variations were observed, such as higher levels of methamphetamine in Barcelona and amphetamine in Bilbao, indicating different primary drugs in these metropolitan areas.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kristin Feltmann, Tobias H. Elgan, Anna K. Strandberg, Pia Kvillemo, Nitya Jayaram-Lindstrom, Meryem Grabski, Jon Waldron, Tom Freeman, Helen Valerie Curran, Johanna Gripenberg
Summary: Illicit drug use is common in the nightlife scene, especially at EDM events. A study found that most young adults frequenting these events have used illicit drugs, with cannabis being the most popular choice. This suggests that the nightlife setting could be a promising environment for illicit drug prevention interventions.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Merve Kuloglu Genc, Selda Mercan, Murat Yayla, Tugba Tekin Bulbul, Cagdas Adioren, Sumeyye Zulal Simsek, Faruk Asicioglu
Summary: The national wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) monitoring campaign in Turkey since 2019 aimed to determine drug consumption trends. Results from monitoring in six major cities showed geographical variations in drug usage preferences, with cannabis being widely used in all cities. Significant differences in drug consumption levels among the cities were identified, except for cannabis.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Paulo Sergio de Almeida Augusto, Raissa Lima Goncalves Pereira, Sordaini Maria Caligiorne, Brian Sabato, Bruna Rodrigues Dias Assis, Larissa Pires do Espirito Santo, Karine Dias dos Reis, Gisele Assis Castro Goulart, Angelo de Fatima, Maila de Castro Lourenco das Neves, Frederico Duarte Garcia
Summary: Protecting children from prenatal cocaine exposure is a significant challenge, but using anti-cocaine vaccines may be effective in reducing this risk. The study demonstrates the potential of GNE-KLH anti-cocaine vaccine to produce and maintain antibodies that protect against prenatal cocaine damage during pregnancy. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms behind the protective effects of anti-cocaine antibodies in pregnancy.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Xiaoyu Zhang, Yongtao Tang, Hao Wu, Yuanfeng Wang, Li Niu, Fengyu Li
Summary: This study proposes a wearable electrochemical aptasensor for the rapid and accurate detection of multiple drugs in sweat. It provides a new method for drug detection and can be used for onsite and daily testing of human biochemical information.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Xiaoyu Zhang, Yongtao Tang, Hao Wu, Yuanfeng Wang, Li Niu, Fengyu Li
Summary: Drug abuse poses a serious threat to human health and society, necessitating the development of rapid, sensitive, portable, and user-friendly methods for drug detection. In this study, a wearable electrochemical aptasensor was proposed for the direct capture and rapid detection of multiple drugs in sweat. The sensor showed high sensitivity and specificity, and could generate distinct electrochemical fingerprints for different drugs. This research provides a new approach for drug detection and serves as a reference for developing wearable sensors for onsite and daily testing of human biochemical information.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Natalie Sims, Elizabeth Holton, Edward Archer, Marelize Botes, Gideon Wolfaardt, Barbara Kasprzyk-Hordern
Summary: This study proposes a new integrated powerless, in-situ multi-mode extraction (iMME) sampler for the analysis of chemicals and biological markers in water in contrasting settings. The results indicate that the pristine environment of Olifants catchment is largely unaffected by CECs common in the urbanized River Avon in the UK. iMME equipped with an additional gene extraction capability provides an exciting new opportunity of comprehensive biochemical profiling of aqueous samples.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Franciszek Bydalek, Daniel Ifayemi, Liam Reynolds, Ruth Barden, Barbara Kasprzyk-Hordern, Jannis Wenk
Summary: This study investigated the dynamics of microplastics (MPs) in a newly established surface flow constructed wetland (CW) that receives 1.4 million liters per day of secondary treated wastewater. The study found that most MPs were synthetic fibers and fragments in the size range of 100-1000 micrometers. The CW effectively retained MPs, but the accumulation of MPs in sediments and substrate needs to be considered.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
E. Archer, E. Holton, J. Fidal, B. Kasprzyk-Hordern, A. Carstens, L. Brocker, T. R. Kjeldsen, G. M. Wolfaardt
Summary: This study evaluated the presence and fate of emerging contaminants in a South African wastewater treatment works and surface waters. Multiple chemical markers were found in the river water upstream of the wastewater treatment works, indicating diffuse pollution from urban communities not connected to sewage networks. The study also assessed the ecological health risks of pollution hotspot areas and highlighted challenges associated with wastewater-based epidemiology in non-sewered communities.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Andrew Kannan, Natalie Sims, Angus J. Hold, Kishore Jagadeesan, Richard Standerwick, Ruth Barden, Barbara Kasprzyk-Hordern
Summary: This study explores the use of Wastewater-Based Epidemiology (WBE) to understand pain treatment in two contrasting communities. The combination of WBE and NHS prescription data shows great potential in revealing seasonal patterns and types of treatment. The study's importance is rated at 8 out of 10.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Johannes Sirunda, Paul Oberholster, Gideon Wolfaardt, Christoff Truter, Sean van der Merwe
Summary: Rising temperatures and increased droughts due to climate change affect reservoir water levels. This study examined the impact of drought on phytoplankton biomass in dams with desert climates. The results showed varying effects between the two dams, with one experiencing a decrease in biomass and the other not. Further research is needed to understand the role of other environmental factors in water quality during droughts.
AFRICAN JOURNAL OF AQUATIC SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Barbara Kasprzyk-Hordern, Natalie Sims, Kata Farkas, Kishore Jagadeesan, Kathryn Proctor, Matthew J. Wade, Davey L. Jones
Summary: This manuscript presents findings from a comprehensive study on wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) conducted in 10 cities and towns across England, with a population of approximately 7 million people. The study utilized multi-biomarker suite analysis to examine both chemical and biological determinants in wastewater samples, providing insights into city metabolism and community health. The results showed that population size played a significant role in the presence of chemical markers, but there were exceptions indicating specific chemical intake patterns and potential sources of exposure. The study also highlighted the variability in virus markers and their prevalence in different communities.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Barbara Kasprzyk-Hordern, Frederic Been, Lubertus Bijlsma, Werner Brack, Sara Castiglioni, Adrian Covaci, Bice S. Martincigh, Jochen F. Mueller, Alexander L. N. van Nuijs, Temilola Oluseyi, Kevin V. Thomas
Summary: Water-based environmental monitoring (WBE) has become a useful tool for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance and has been applied to assess illicit drug consumption in communities. It is important to expand its use to evaluate community exposure to chemical stressors. The goal of WBE is to measure exposure, identify exposure-outcome associations, and implement interventions for exposure prevention and public health promotion. To fully utilize WBE, further action is needed, such as integrating WBE with human biomonitoring initiatives, conducting global WBE monitoring campaigns, combining WBE with One Health actions, and advancing analytical tools and methodologies.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kishore Kumar Jagadeesan, Ruth Barden, Barbara Kasprzyk-Hordern
Summary: Predicting the concentration of active pharmaceuticals ingredients (API) in the environment is crucial for assessing their environmental risk. The PERK tool, based on R/Shiny, was evaluated to automate the modelling and reporting of predicted environmental concentration (PEC) of a wide range of API in different environmental matrices. PERK calculated PEC in wastewater influent, effluent, and river, and compared it with measured environmental concentrations (MEC) in five catchments in England. The tool also generated prediction accuracy (PA) by comparing PEC and MEC. PERK provides a user-friendly interface for visualizing the results without requiring extensive programming knowledge.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Heidi Christa Steffen, Katrin Smith, Corne van Deventer, Chelsea Weiskerger, Caylin Bosch, Joao Brandao, Gideon Wolfaardt, Alfred Botha
Summary: This study investigates the risk of yeast infection through river water exposure and the impact of pollution levels on fungal communities. A quantitative microbial risk assessment framework is proposed to evaluate the potential risk of yeast infection. The results suggest that higher pollution levels significantly alter fungal communities and increase the abundance of opportunistic and pathogenic yeast species. The study provides valuable methods and insights for future research on yeast infections in river water.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Natalie Sims, Andrew Kannan, Elizabeth Holton, Kishore Jagadeesan, Leonardos Mageiros, Richard Standerwick, Tim Craft, Ruth Barden, Edward J. Feil, Barbara Kasprzyk-Hordern
Summary: This longitudinal study examines correlations between antimicrobial agents (AA) and corresponding antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) in a community wastewater over a 13-month period. The study finds that some AAs experience seasonal fluctuations, while ARG prevalence remains relatively stable. However, positive correlations are observed between individual AAs and ARGs during periods of seasonal variability in AA use. Additionally, hospital wastewater shows higher concentrations of AAs compared to community wastewater, highlighting the importance of surveillance in healthcare settings.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Natalie Sims, Elizabeth Holton, Kishore Jagadeesan, Richard Standerwick, Ruth Barden, Barbara Kasprzyk-Hordern
Summary: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant global health threat, driven by inappropriate and over-usage of antimicrobial agents (AAs). Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is a promising tool for monitoring AA usage in communities. This study explores AA usage patterns in two urban catchment areas, showing positive correlations in wastewater, even in neighboring areas, and highlighting the superiority of WBE in providing comprehensive information on AA usage.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Elizabeth Holton, Carla Louw, Edward Archer, Tobias Louw, Gideon Wolfaardt, Barbara Kasprzyk-Hordern
Summary: There has been an uneven distribution of antimicrobial agents (AAs) usage globally, with an increase in consumption worldwide. Inappropriate use of antibiotics can contribute to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), highlighting the importance of monitoring and understanding prescribing and consumption behaviors in different communities. Wastewater-Based Epidemiology (WBE) is a cost-effective tool that allows for large-scale studies on AA usage patterns. By analyzing municipal wastewater and informal settlement discharge in Stellenbosch, the study successfully estimated community antimicrobial intake. The findings revealed higher-than-average usage in the informal settlements compared to municipal wastewater, emphasizing the need for better monitoring and control of AA usage.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Sotirios Papamatthaiou, James Boxall-Clasby, Edward J. A. Douglas, Pawel Jajesniak, Hadrien Peyret, June Mercer-Chalmers, Varun K. S. Kumar, George P. Lomonossoff, Julien Reboud, Maisem Laabei, Jonathan M. Cooper, Barbara Kasprzyk-Hordern, Despina Moschou
Summary: The recent COVID-19 outbreak has emphasized the need for lab-on-chip diagnostic technology that is suitable for real-life deployment. This study presents a new technology that utilizes printed circuit board (PCB) technology and manufacturing infrastructure to address the challenges in integrating analytical microsystems and scaling up production. The technology enables fast and reliable genetic detection of SARS-CoV-2 and has the potential to be extended to detect other pathogens.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Nicola Ceolotto, Patricia Dollamore, Angus Hold, Bethany Balne, Kishore Kumar Jagadeesan, Richard Standerwick, Megan Robertson, Ruth Barden, Barbara Kasprzyk-Hordern
Summary: This manuscript presents a novel wastewater-based epidemiology workflow for estimating the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) using pharmaceuticals and their metabolites as proxies. The study tested the performance of the SPE-UHPLC-MS/MS method, the stability of biomarkers under various storage conditions, and the consideration of human metabolism in back-calculations. Most analytes exhibited high stability, except for a few exceptions. The method accuracy and precision were found to be satisfactory. The validated method was then applied to estimate pharmaceutical usage in a community wastewater sample and compare the results with prescription data. The new WBE method showed promise in estimating the daily usage/intake of NCD targets.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Toshimi Nakajima, Mao Kuragano, Makoto Yamada, Ryo Sugimoto
Summary: This study compared the contribution of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) to river nutrient budgets at nearshore and embayment scales, and found that SGD-derived nutrients become more important at larger spatial scales.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fan Liu, Lei Zhang, Chongyang Zhang, Ziguang Chen, Jingguang Li
Summary: NO2 emissions from wall-mounted gas stoves used for household heating have become a significant source of indoor pollution in Chinese urban areas. The high indoor concentration of NO2 poses potential health risks to residents. It is urgently necessary to establish relevant regulations and implement emission reduction technologies to reduce NO2 emissions from wall-mounted gas stoves.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Letter
Environmental Sciences
Hans Peter H. Arp, Raoul Wolf, Sarah E. Hale, Sivani Baskaran, Juliane Gluege, Martin Scheringer, Xenia Trier, Ian T. Cousins, Harrie Timmer, Roberta Hofman-Caris, Anna Lennquist, Andre D. Bannink, Gerard J. Stroomberg, Rosa M. A. Sjerps, Rosa Montes, Rosario Rodil, Jose Benito Quintana, Daniel Zahn, Herve Gallard, Tobias Mohr, Ivo Schliebner, Michael Neumann
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Philomina Onyedikachi Peter, Binessi Edouard Ifon, Francois Nkinahamira, Kayode Hassan Lasisi, Jiangwei Li, Anyi Hu, Chang-Ping Yu
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between dissolved organic matter (DOM) and Rare Earth Elements (REEs) in sediments from Yundang Lagoon, China. The results show four distinct fluorescent components, with protein-like substances being the most prevalent. Additionally, the total fluorescence intensity and LREE concentrations exhibit a synchronized increase from Outer to Inner to Songbai Lake core sediments. The findings demonstrate a strong correlation between DOM content and pollution levels.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Surya Gupta, Pasquale Borrelli, Panos Panagos, Christine Alewell
Summary: The objective of this study is to incorporate soil hydraulic properties into the erodibility factor (K) of USLE-type models. By modifying and improving the existing equations for soil texture and permeability, the study successfully included information on saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) into the calculation of K factor. Using the Random Forest machine learning algorithm, two independent K factor maps with different spatial resolutions were generated. The results show that the decrease in K factor values has a positive impact on the modeling of soil erosion rates.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jesmin Akter, Wendy J. M. Smith, Yawen Liu, Ilho Kim, Stuart L. Simpson, Phong Thai, Asja Korajkic, Warish Ahmed
Summary: The choice of workflow in wastewater surveillance has a significant impact on SARS-CoV-2 concentrations, while having minimal effects on HF183 and no effect on HAdV 40/41 concentrations. Certain components in the workflow can be interchangeable, but factors such as buffer type, chloroform, and homogenization speed can affect the recovery of viruses and bacteria.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yu Luo, Xueting Yang, Diwei Wang, Hongmei Xu, Hongai Zhang, Shasha Huang, Qiyuan Wang, Ningning Zhang, Junji Cao, Zhenxing Shen
Summary: Atmospheric PM2.5, which can generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), is associated with cardiorespiratory morbidity and mortality. The study found that both the mass concentration of PM2.5 and the DTT activity were higher during the heating season than during the nonheating season. Combustion sources were the primary contributors to DTT activity during the heating season, while secondary formation dominated during the nonheating season. The study also revealed that biomass burning had the highest inherent oxidation potential among all sources investigated.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Erin L. Murphy, Leah R. Gerber, Chelsea M. Rochman, Beth Polidoro
Summary: Plastic pollution has devastating consequences for marine organisms. This study uses a trait-based framework to develop a vulnerability index for marine mammals, seabirds, and sea turtles in Hawai'i. The index ranks 63 study species based on their vulnerability to macroplastic pollution, providing valuable information for species monitoring and management priorities.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kenji Maurice, Amelia Bourceret, Sami Youssef, Stephane Boivin, Liam Laurent-Webb, Coraline Damasio, Hassan Boukcim, Marc-Andre Selosse, Marc Ducousso
Summary: Growing pressure from climate change and agricultural land use is destabilizing soil microbial community interactions. Little is known about microbial community resistance and adaptation to disturbances, hindering our understanding of recovery latency and implications for ecosystem functioning. This study found that anthropic disturbance and natural disturbance have different effects on the topology and stability of soil microbial networks.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yunhao Li, Yali Feng, Haoran Li, Yisong Yao, Chenglong Xu, Jinrong Ju, Ruiyu Ma, Haoyu Wang, Shiwei Jiang
Summary: Deep-sea mining poses a serious threat to marine ecosystems and human health by disturbing sediment and transmitting metal ions through the food chain. This study developed a new regenerative adsorption material, OMN@SA, which effectively removes metal ions. The adsorption mechanism and performance of the material for metal ion fixation were investigated.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Antonio Medici, Margherita Lavorgna, Marina Isidori, Chiara Russo, Elena Orlo, Giovanni Luongo, Giovanni Di Fabio, Armando Zarrelli
Summary: Valsartan, a widely used antihypertensive drug, has been detected in high concentrations in surface waters due to its unchanged excretion and incomplete degradation in wastewater treatment plants. This study investigated the degradation of valsartan and identified 14 degradation byproducts. The acute and chronic toxicity of these byproducts were evaluated in key organisms in the freshwater trophic chain.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jiang Lin, Lianbao Chi, Qing Yuan, Busu Li, Mingbao Feng
Summary: This study investigated the photodegradation behavior and product formation of two representative pharmaceuticals in simulated estuary water. The study found that the formed transformation products of these pharmaceuticals have potential toxicity on marine organisms, including oxidative stress and damage to cellular components.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hua Fang, Dongdong Jiang, Ye He, Siyi Wu, Yuehong Li, Ziqi Zhang, Haoting Chen, Zixin Zheng, Yan Sun, Wenxiang Wang
Summary: This study revealed that exposure to lower levels of air pollutants led to decreased pregnancy rates, with PM10, NO2, SO2, and CO emerging as the four most prominent pollutants. Individuals aged 35 and above exhibited heightened susceptibility to pollutants.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ali Shaan Manzoor Ghumman, Rashid Shamsuddin, Amin Abbasi, Mohaira Ahmad, Yoshiaki Yoshida, Abdul Sami, Hamad Almohamadi
Summary: In this study, inverse vulcanized polysulfides (IVP) were synthesized by reacting molten sulfur with 4-vinyl benzyl chloride, and then functionalized using N-methyl D-glucamine (NMDG). The functionalized IVP showed a high mercury adsorption capacity and a machine learning model was developed to predict the amount of mercury removed. Furthermore, the functionalized IVP can be regenerated and reused, providing a sustainable and cost-effective adsorbent.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rita Bonfiglio, Renata Sisto, Stefano Casciardi, Valeria Palumbo, Maria Paola Scioli, Erica Giacobbi, Francesca Servadei, Gerry Melino, Alessandro Mauriello, Manuel Scimeca
Summary: This study investigated the presence of aluminum in human colon cancer samples and its potential association with biological processes involved in cancer progression. Aluminum was found in tumor areas of 24% of patients and was associated with epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cell death. Additional analyses revealed higher tumor mutational burden and mutations in genes related to EMT and apoptosis in aluminum-positive colon cancers. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of aluminum toxicity may improve strategies for the management of colon cancer patients.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
