Showing papers in "Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part A-toxic\/hazardous Substances & Environmental Engineering in 2020"

A review on the potential sources and health implications of fluoride in groundwater of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Abstract: Groundwater is a major source of drinking water for millions of people around the world. Over 400 million people in Africa depend solely on it as their main source of water supply. Fluoride is a co...

The inhibitory effect of some natural bioactive compounds against SARS-CoV-2 main protease: insights from molecular docking analysis and molecular dynamic simulation

Abstract: This work aimed at evaluating the inhibitory effect of ten natural bioactive compounds (1-10) as potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2-3CL main protease (PDB ID: 6LU7) and SARS-CoV main proteases (PDB IDs: 2GTB and 3TNT) by molecular docking analysis. The inhibitory effect of all studied compounds was studied with compared to some proposed antiviral drugs which currently used in COVID-19 treatment such as chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, remdesivir, baloxvir, lopinavir, and favipiravir. Homology modeling and sequence alignment was computed to evaluate the similarity between the SARS-CoV-2-3CL main protease and other SARS-CoV receptors. ADMET properties of all studied compounds were computed and reported. Also, molecular dynamic (MD) simulation was performed on the compound which has the highest binding affinity inside 6LU7 obtained from molecular docking analysis to study it is stability inside receptor in explicit water solvent. Based on molecular docking analysis, we found that caulerpin has the highest binding affinity inside all studied receptors compared to other bioactive compounds and studied drugs. Our homology modeling and sequence alignment showed that SARS-CoV main protease (PDB ID: 3TNT) shares high similarity with 3CLpro (96.00%). Also, ADMET properties confirmed that caulerpin obeys Lipinski's rule and passes ADMET property, which make it a promising compound to act as a new safe natural drug against SARS-CoV-2-3CL main protease. Finally, MD simulation confirmed that the complex formed between caulerpin and 3CLpro is stable in water explicit and had no major effect on the flexibility of the protein throughout the simulations and provided a suitable basis for our study. Also, binding free energy between caulerpin and 6LU7 confirmed the efficacy of the caulerpin molecule against SARS-CoV-2 main protease. So, this study suggested that caulerpin could be used as a potential candidate in COVID-19 treatment.

Water quality evaluation of a lacustrine water body in the Mediterranean based on different water quality index (WQI) methodologies.

Abstract: The relative response of seven different Water Quality Indices (WQIs) was comparatively tested in an artificial Mediterranean lake, with the ultimate goal of the study to function as a first step in investigating the applicability of the examined WQIs in Mediterranean lacustrine water bodies. The following WQIs were examined: Prati's Index of Pollution, Bhargava's Index, Oregon WQI, Dinius' Second Index, Weighted Arithmetic Index, Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) WQI and National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) WQI, using physicochemical parameters measured in an artificial lake on a monthly basis from June 2004 to May 2005. The results showed that, on the basis of their comparative response, the examined indices are grouped in three categories. Specifically, NSF and Bhargava indices classified the examined water body in higher quality classes, Prati's and Dinius in medium, whereas CCME and Oregon categorized it in lower quality classes. WQIs were proved to be extremely useful in water quality evaluation. Most of them were found to be adequate to represent water quality conditions and trends in a lacustrine water body in the Mediterranean and, therefore, they present high potential to be adopted at European Union level and assist in Water Framework Directive (WFD) implementation.

Hazard characterization of silver nanoparticles for human exposure routes.

Abstract: Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been widely used for a multitude of applications without full comprehensive knowledge regarding their safety. In particular, lack of data on hazard characterization may lead to uncertainties regarding potential human health risk. To provide the foundation for human health risk assessment of AgNPs, this study evaluates existing hazard characterization data, including reported pharmacokinetics, symptoms, and their corresponding dose-response relationships. Human equivalent relationships are also provided by extrapolation from animal dose-response relationships. From the data analyzed, it appears that AgNPs may persist for long periods (from days to years) in the human body. It was found that AgNP toxicity on traditional major targets of exogenous substances were generally underestimated. Some omissions of toxicity on sensitive systems in the AgNP toxicity assessment require attention, such as reprotoxicity and neurotoxicity. The necessity of the establishment of toxicity tests specifically for nanomaterials is highlighted. The scientific basis of a toxicity testing strategy is advised by this study, which paves the way for the monitoring and regulation of the ENP utilization in various industries.

Chronic cadmium exposure and cardiovascular disease in adults.

Abstract: Chronic cadmium exposure and its effect on cardiovascular-related markers were explored in the cross-sectional study of U.S. adults using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANE...

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles for application in cosmetics.

Abstract: In this work, we analyzed the advantages of using silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized with natural extracts in ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) protective cream. The photodegradation ...

Prediction models for evaluating heavy metal uptake by Pisum sativum L. in soil amended with sewage sludge

Abstract: The present study aims to develop prediction models for estimating the potential uptake of 10 heavy metals (HMs) (cadmium, Cd; cobalt, Co; chromium, Cr; copper, Cu; iron, Fe; manganese, Mn;...

Toxicity of microwave-synthesized silver-reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites to the microalga Chlorella vulgaris: Comparison with the hydrothermal method synthesized counterparts

Abstract: The increased applications of nanomaterials in industry and biomedicine have resulted in a rising concern about their possible toxic impacts on living organisms. It has been claimed that the phytos...

Adsorption of chlortetracycline from aquaculture wastewater using modified zeolites.

Abstract: In this study, lanthanum modified zeolite (La-Z) was used to adsorb chlortetracycline (CTC) from aquaculture wastewater. La-Z was characterized by SEM, TEM, EDS, XRD, FTIR and BET. The effects vari...

Radiation-induced synthesis of tween 80 stabilized silver nanoparticles for antibacterial applications.

Abstract: Recently, Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have become widely applied nanomaterial in human contacting areas such as cosmetics, food and medicine due to their antibacterial property On the other hand,

Is the development of Daphnia magna neonates affected by short-term exposure to polyethylene microplastics?

Abstract: The study presents responses of D. magna newborns exposed during 96 h to polyethylene microplastics (MP) of size 40-48 μm in the concentrations of 20; 40; 80; 160 and 320 mg/L. The experimental des...

Determination of bisphenol A in barreled drinking water by a SPE-LC-MS method.

Abstract: A quantitative method was established to determine the well-known endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA) in barreled drinking water. Samples were pretreated by solid phase extraction (SPE), and then...

Co-biodegradation studies of naphthalene and phenanthrene using bacterial consortium

Abstract: Degradation studies of phenanthrene and naphthalene as a mixture was carried out using a developed bacterial consortium. The isolates used in consortium were identified as Chryseobacterium sp., Sph...

Characterization and application of an anaerobic, iron and sulfate reducing bacterial culture in enhanced bioremediation of acid mine drainage impacted soil.

Abstract: Development of an appropriate bioremediation strategy for acid mine drainage (AMD) impacted environment is imperative for sustainable mining but remained critically challenged due to the paucity of...

Removal of uranium(VI) from water using hydroxyapatite coated activated carbon powder nanocomposite

Abstract: Synthesis of hydroxyapatite coated activated carbon nanocomposite was carried out by in-situ chemical precipitation method. Different characterizations confirm that, hydroxyapatite successfully coa...

Photoreduction of chromium (VI) by a composite of niobium (V) oxide impregnated with a Ti-based MOF.

Abstract: Herein, we report a novel composite material of Nb2O5@MIL–125 that exhibited enhanced photoreduction of hexavalent chromium. The composite material was fabricated through an impregnation approach, ...

Environmental exposure to lead and hematological parameters in Afro-Brazilian children living near artisanal glazed pottery workshops.

Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the exposure to environmental lead (Pb) of children from a traditional community of African descent in Brazil and the effects on hematological parameters. Children (n =...

Ambient air pollution exposure association with diabetes prevalence and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in China. Cross-sectional analysis from the WHO study of AGEing and adult health wave 1.

Abstract: Over the past decades, air pollution has become one of the critical environmental health issues in China. The present study aimed to evaluate links between ambient air pollution and the prevalence ...

Reversible photochromic photocatalyst Bi2O3/TiO2/Al2O3 with enhanced visible photoactivity: application toward UDMH degradation in wastewater

Abstract: 1,1-Dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) and its by-products were considered carcinogenic toxins and represent a serious health hazard to the population once present in water under natural conditions without treatment. The conventional degradation method suffers from incomplete removal of intermediate products (especially N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA)), the powdery catalysis being difficult to recover and results in high energy consumption. In this study, a series of Bi2O3/TiO2/Al2O3 (BTA) photocatalysts have been successfully synthesized by a simple dry mixing method with powder material followed by their immobilization. It was evaluated by the photocatalytic degradation of UDMH present in wastewater, which can be recovered by rapid filtration and utilizes only solar energy. The catalyst exhibited markedly enhanced photocatalytic activity for the degradation of UDMH wastewater compared with conventional TiO2/Al2O3 (TA) catalysts under UV, visible and solar irradiation. Besides, the intermediate NDMA was gradually completely degraded. The photocatalysts were extensively characterized using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometry, specific surface area (BET), X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and photo-electrochemical I-t curves evaluation. The results revealed that all the BTA composites exhibited high stability and stronger absorbance in visible light. In addition, the BTA exhibited a reversible photochromic property that can effectively expand the range of light absorption and enhance the photocatalytic activity. The reversible photochromic properties of BTA explained in the proposed mechanism model are expected to be useful for detecting and sensing UDMH or other organic contaminants.

Use of brewing industry waste to produce carbon-based adsorbents: Paracetamol adsorption study.

Abstract: This work aimed to produce activated carbon (AC) from brewing industry waste (the malt bagasse) to adsorb Paracetamol. Malt bagasse was characterized by moisture and ash contents and thermogravimet...

Treatment of agrochemical wastewater by subcritical water oxidation method: chemical composition and ion analysis of treated and untreated samples

Abstract: This work aimed at offering an effective and environmentally friendly approach to the real wastewater of an industrial agrochemicals production plant containing high amounts of many hazardous compounds that threaten human health. The removal of total organic carbon (TOC) (59.45%) and colour (97.92%) of the wastewater was achieved using subcritical water oxidation method. The fate of the detected compounds was followed by GC-MS analysis. Several pollutants such as phenol, fumaric acid, chlorpyrifos, penconazole, brassilexin, buprofezin, etoxazole, pyriproxyfen and 2-naphthalene-sulphonic acid which are bio-refractory and harmful to human health, were effectively degraded. Inorganic ions exist in the wastewater or formed through the process and their possible effects on the applied method were analysed. The central composite design was used to optimise the method and fully evaluate the single or combined effects of the method parameters on the removal rates. The precision of the applied design models was evaluated employing ANOVA, Regression coefficients and validation analysis. F and P and R2 values were obtained as 107.43, <0.0001, and 0.9898, respectively in the TOC removal model and 39.45, <0.0001, and 0.9726 in the colour removal model.[Formula: see text].

Determining conventional and unconventional oil and gas well brines in natural samples I: Anion analysis with ion chromatography.

Abstract: Unconventional natural gas extraction by hydraulic fracturing requires millions of gallons of water and generates flowback water, produced water and recycled fluids of varying chemical composition....

Phosphate rock solubilization and the potential for lead immobilization by a phosphate-solubilizing bacterium (Pseudomonas sp.)

Abstract: Lead (Pb) pollution is getting more and more serious in phosphate mining wastelands recently. However, seldom studies focused on the bioremediation of Pb pollution in phosphate mining waste...

Characterization of nitrous oxide reduction by Azospira sp. HJ23 isolated from advanced wastewater treatment sludge.

Abstract: A new nitrous oxide (N2O)-reducing bacterium was isolated from a consortium that was enriched using advanced wastewater treatment sludge as an inoculum and N2O as the sole nitrogen source. The isol...

Biodegradation of phenolic compounds present in palm oil mill effluent as single and mixed substrates by Trametes hirsuta AK04.

Abstract: The ability of white-rot fungus, Trametes hirsuta AK04, to utilize phenolics as single and mixed substrates was determined in mineral medium and palm oil mill effluent (POME). The strain AK04 was a...

Potential ecological and health risks of toxic metals associated with artisanal mining contamination in Ijero, southwest Nigeria.

Abstract: This investigation was done to decide the concentrations, sources and potential risks of metals in media around Ijero area. A total of 80 samples including topsoils, sediments, tailings and whole p...

Microbial toxicity of gallium- and indium-based oxide and arsenide nanoparticles

Abstract: III-V semiconductor materials such as gallium arsenide (GaAs) and indium arsenide (InAs) are increasingly used in the fabrication of electronic devices. There is a growing concern about the potential release of these materials into the environment leading to effects on public and environmental health. The waste effluents from the chemical mechanical planarization process could impact microorganisms in biological wastewater treatment systems. Currently, there is only limited information about the inhibition of gallium- and indium-based nanoparticles (NPs) on microorganisms. This study evaluated the acute toxicity of GaAs, InAs, gallium oxide (Ga2O3), and indium oxide (In2O3) particulates using two microbial inhibition assays targeting methanogenic archaea and the marine bacterium, Aliivibrio fischeri. GaAs and InAs NPs were acutely toxic towards these microorganisms; Ga2O3 and In2O3 NPs were not. The toxic effect was mainly due to the release of soluble arsenic species and it increased with decreasing particle size and with increasing time due to the progressive corrosion of the NPs in the aqueous bioassay medium. Collectively, the results indicate that the toxicity exerted by the arsenide NPs under environmental conditions will vary depending on intrinsic properties of the material such as particle size as well as on the dissolution time and aqueous chemistry.

Sustainability assessment of long-term, widely used household Kanchan Arsenic Filters in Nepal.

Abstract: This study revealed the status of 2833 Kanchan Arsenic Filters (KAFs), aged 2 months to over 10 years, distributed in Nepal. Thirty percent of the filters were being used, but usage status generall...

Evaluation of air quality and mobility policies in 14 large Italian cities from 2006 to 2016

Abstract: Despite a connection between road traffic and air pollution has been clearly identified, few integrated analyses on air quality and mobility policies are currently available worldwide. Aim of this work is to build a framework for the evaluation of the impact of mobility policies on air quality in 14 major Italian cities, on a long-time scale (2006-2016). Air quality data was collected from all PM10, PM2.5, and NO2 monitoring stations, installed in compliance with the European directive 2008/50/EC. A large dataset was collected, including public transport, environmental, and fuel categorization of the private vehicular fleet, low emissions zones and modal split. In the analyzed time period, both public transportation use and private motorization decreased. Considering the environmental classification standards of vehicles, Northern cities are more readily switching to newer and less polluting cars (e.g. Euro 5 and Euro 6). There has been a general reduction in PM and NO2 concentration. Nevertheless, exceedances are still above the targeted limit value, mainly in some Northern cities who made major investments in sustainable and shared mobility: this highlights a strong influence of climatic conditions and other sources. Dramatic variations in the CO/NO ratio were observed in Turin, while smaller changes are observed in Milan, Rome and Palermo.

Use of functinalized adsorbents for tetracycline removal in wastewater: adsorption mechanism and comparison with activated carbon.

Abstract: The present study investigated the application of functinalized adsorbents in the removal of tetracycline in water by adsorption. Activated carbon was impregnated with iron chloride, copper sulfate...