Displaying publications 61 - 80 of 225 in total

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  1. Rawindran H, Khoo KS, Ethiraj B, Suparmaniam U, Leong WH, Raksasat R, et al.
    Environ Res, 2023 Sep 15;233:116533.
    PMID: 37394167 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116533
    Changing the growth environment for microalgae can overall lead to the fundamental alteration in cellular biochemicals whilst attaching onto palm kernel expeller (PKE) waste to form adhesion complex in easing harvesting at stationary growth phase. This study had initially optimized the PKE dosage, light intensity and photoperiod in maximizing the attached microalgal productivity being attained at 0.72 g/g day. Lipid content increased progressively from pH 3 to pH 11, with the highest value observed at pH 11. Meanwhile, in terms of protein and carbohydrate contents, the highest values were obtained by cultivation medium of pH 5 with 9.92 g and 17.72 g, respectively followed by pH 7 with 9.16 g and 16.36 g, respectively. Moreover, the findings also suggested that the low pH mediums utilized polar interactions in the formation of complexes between PKE and microalgae, whereas at higher pH levels, the non-polar interactions became more significant. The work of attachment was thermodynamically favourable towards the attachment formation with values greater than zero which was also aligned with the microscopic surface topography, i.e., revealing a clustering pattern of microalgae colonizing the PKE surface. These findings contribute to comprehensive understanding of optimizing growth condition and harvesting strategy of attached microalgae in attaining the cellular biochemical components, facilitating the development of efficient and sustainable bioresource utilization.
  2. Chandra J, Molugulu N, Annadurai S, Wahab S, Karwasra R, Singh S, et al.
    Environ Res, 2023 Sep 15;233:116506.
    PMID: 37369307 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116506
    Cancer is an intricate disease that develops as a response to a combination of hereditary and environmental risk factors, which then result in a variety of changes to the genome. The cluster of differentiation (CD44) is a type of transmembrane glycoprotein that serves as a potential biomarker for cancer stem cells (CSC) and viable targets for therapeutic intervention in the context of cancer therapy. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a linear polysaccharide that exhibits a notable affinity for the CD44 receptor. This characteristic renders it a promising candidate for therapeutic interventions aimed at selectively targeting CD44-positive cancer cells. Treating cancer via non-viral vector-based gene delivery has changed the notion of curing illness through the incorporation of therapeutic genes into the organism. The objective of this review is to provide an overview of various hyaluronic acid-modified lipoplexes and polyplexes as potential drug delivery methods for specific forms of cancer by effectively targeting CD44.
  3. Sonam Dongsar T, Tsering Dongsar T, Molugulu N, Annadurai S, Wahab S, Gupta N, et al.
    Environ Res, 2023 Sep 15;233:116455.
    PMID: 37356522 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116455
    Breast carcinoma is a molecularly diverse illness, and it is among the most prominent and often reported malignancies in female across the globe. Surgical intervention, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, gene therapy, and endocrine treatment are among the currently viable treatment options for the carcinoma of breast. Chemotherapy is among the most prevalent cancer management strategy. Doxorubicin (DOX) widely employed as a cytostatic medication for the treatment of a variety of malignancies. Despite its widespread acceptance and excellent efficacy against an extensive line up of neoplasia, it has a variety of shortcomings that limit its therapeutic potential in the previously mentioned indications. Employment of nanoparticulate systems has come up as a unique chemo medication delivery strategy and are being considerably explored for the amelioration of breast carcinoma. Polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA)-based nano systems are being utilized in a number of areas within the medical research and medication delivery constitutes one of the primary functions for PLGA given their inherent physiochemical attributes, including their aqueous solubility, biocompatibility, biodegradability, versatility in formulation, and limited toxicity. Herein along with the different application of PLGA-based nano formulations in cancer therapy, the present review intends to describe the various research investigations that have been conducted to enumerate the effectiveness of DOX-encapsulated PLGA nanoparticles (DOX-PLGA NPs) as a feasible treatment option for breast cancer.
  4. Wu Y, Liu Y, Kamyab H, Rajasimman M, Rajamohan N, Ngo GH, et al.
    Environ Res, 2023 Sep 01;232:116363.
    PMID: 37295587 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116363
    Due to their widespread occurrence and detrimental effects on human health and the environment, endocrine-disrupting hazardous chemicals (EDHCs) have become a significant concern. Therefore, numerous physicochemical and biological remediation techniques have been developed to eliminate EDHCs from various environmental matrices. This review paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art remediation techniques for eliminating EDHCs. The physicochemical methods include adsorption, membrane filtration, photocatalysis, and advanced oxidation processes. The biological methods include biodegradation, phytoremediation, and microbial fuel cells. Each technique's effectiveness, advantages, limitations, and factors affecting their performance are discussed. The review also highlights recent developments and future perspectives in EDHCs remediation. This review provides valuable insights into selecting and optimizing remediation techniques for EDHCs in different environmental matrices.
  5. Yu H, Zahidi I, Fai CM
    Environ Res, 2023 Sep 01;232:116336.
    PMID: 37321336 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116336
    Tailings ponds, large man-made structures conceived during the mining process for waste storage, often become deserted post-mining, leaving behind a stark, contaminated landscape. This paper posits that these forsaken tailings ponds can be rejuvenated into fertile agricultural land through adept reclamation efforts. Serving as a discussion paper, it engages in a stimulating exploration of the environmental and health risks linked to tailings ponds. It sheds light on the potential and impediments in the transformation of these ponds into agricultural land. The discussion concludes that despite the substantial hurdles in repurposing tailings ponds for agriculture, there are encouraging prospects with the application of multifaceted efforts.
  6. Zango ZU, Ethiraj B, Al-Mubaddel FS, Alam MM, Lawal MA, Kadir HA, et al.
    Environ Res, 2023 Aug 15;231(Pt 2):116102.
    PMID: 37196688 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116102
    Perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) are sub-class of perfluoroalkyl substances commonly detected in water matrices. They are persistent in the environment, hence highly toxic to living organisms. Their occurrence at trace amount, complex nature and prone to matrix interference make their extraction and detection a challenge. This study consolidates current advancements in solid-phase extraction (SPE) techniques for the trace-level analysis of PFCAs from water matrices. The advantages of the methods in terms of ease of applications, low-cost, robustness, low solvents consumption, high pre-concentration factors, better extraction efficiency, good selectivity and recovery of the analytes have been emphasized. The article also demonstrated effectiveness of some porous materials for the adsorptive removal of the PFCAs from the water matrices. Mechanisms of the SPE/adsorption techniques have been discussed. The success and limitations of the processes have been elucidated.
  7. Singa PK, Isa MH, Sivaprakash B, Ho YC, Lim JW, Rajamohan N
    Environ Res, 2023 Aug 15;231(Pt 2):116191.
    PMID: 37211185 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116191
    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocharbons (PAHs) are a class of highly toxic pollutants that are highly detrimental to the ecosystem. Landfill leechate emanated from municipal solid waste are reported to constitute significant PAHs. In the present investigation, three Fenton proceses, namely conventional Fenton, photo-fenton and electro-fenton methods have been employed to treat landfill leehcate for removing PAHs from a waste dumpig yard. Response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN) methodologies were adopted to optimize and validate the conditions for optimum oxidative removal of COD and PAHs. The statistical analysis results showed that all independent variables chosen in the study are reported to have significant influence of the removal effects with P-values <0.05. Sensitivity analysis by the developed ANN model showed that the pH had the highest significance of 1.89 in PAH removal when compared to the other parameters. However for COD removal, H2O2 had the highest relative importance of 1.15, followed by Fe2+ and pH. Under optimal treatment conditions, the photo-fenton and electro-fenton processes showed better removal of COD and PAH compared to the Fenton process. The photo-fenton and electro-fenton treatment processes removed 85.32% and 74.64% of COD and 93.25% and 81.65% of PAHs, respectively. Also the investigations revelaed the presence of 16 distinct PAH compunds and the removal percentage of each of these PAHs are also reported. The PAH treatment research studies are generally limited to the assay of removal of PAH and COD levels. In the present investigation, in addition to the treatment of landfill leachate, particle size distribution analysis and elemental characterization of the resultant iron sludge by FESEM and EDX are reported. It was revealed that elemental oxygen is present in highest percentage, followed by iron, sulphur, sodium, chlorine, carbon and potassium. However, iron percentage can be reduced by treating the Fenton-treated sample with NaOH.
  8. Idris SN, Amelia TSM, Bhubalan K, Lazim AMM, Zakwan NAMA, Jamaluddin MI, et al.
    Environ Res, 2023 Aug 15;231(Pt 1):115988.
    PMID: 37105296 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115988
    Plastics have become an integral part of human life. Single-use plastics (SUPs) are disposable plastics designed to be used once then promptly discarded or recycled. This SUPs range from packaging and takeaway containers to disposable razors and hotel toiletries. Synthetic plastics, which are made of non-renewable petroleum and natural gas resources, require decades to perpetually disintegrate in nature thus contribute to plastic pollution worldwide, especially in marine environments. In response to these problems, bioplastics or bio-based and biodegradable polymers from renewable sources has been considered as an alternative. Understanding the mechanisms behind the degradation of conventional SUPs and biodegradability of their greener counterpart, bioplastics, is crucial for appropriate material selection in the future. This review aims to provide insights into the degradation or disintegration of conventional single-use plastics and the biodegradability of the different types of greener-counterparts, bioplastics, their mechanisms, and conditions. This review highlights on the biodegradation in the environments including composting systems. Here, the various types of alternative biodegradable polymers, such as bacterially biosynthesised bioplastics, natural fibre-reinforced plastics, starch-, cellulose-, lignin-, and soy-based polymers were explored. Review of past literature revealed that although bioplastics are relatively eco-friendly, their natural compositions and properties are inconsistent. Furthermore, the global plastic market for biodegradable plastics remains relatively small and require further research and commercialization efforts, especially considering the urgency of plastic and microplastic pollution as currently critical global issue. Biodegradable plastics have potential to replace conventional plastics as they show biodegradation ability under real environments, and thus intensive research on the various biodegradable plastics is needed to inform stakeholders and policy makers on the appropriate response to the gradually emerging biodegradable plastics.
  9. Warsi Khan H, Kaif Khan M, Moniruzzaman M, Al Mesfer MK, Danish M, Irshad K, et al.
    Environ Res, 2023 Aug 15;231(Pt 1):116058.
    PMID: 37178749 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116058
    An emerging contaminant of concern in aqueous streams is naproxen. Due to its poor solubility, non-biodegradability, and pharmaceutically active nature, the separation is challenging. Conventional solvents employed for naproxen are toxic and harmful. Ionic liquids (ILs) have attracted great attention as greener solubilizing and separating agent for various pharmaceuticals. ILs have found extensive usage as solvents in nanotechnological processes involving enzymatic reactions and whole cells. The employment of ILs can enhance the effectiveness and productivity of such bioprocesses. To avoid cumbersome experimental screening, in this study, conductor like screening model for real solvents (COSMO-RS) was used to screen ILs. Thirty anions and eight cations from various families were chosen. Activity coefficient at infinite dilution, capacity, selectivity, performance index, molecular interactions using σ-profiles and interaction energies were used to make predictions about solubility. According to the findings, quaternary ammonium cations, highly electronegative, and food-grade anions will form excellent ionic liquid combinations for solubilizing naproxen and hence will be better separating agents. This research will contribute easy designing of ionic liquid-based separation technologies for naproxen. In different separation technologies, ionic liquids can be employed as extractants, carriers, adsorbents, and absorbents.
  10. Li B, Wu G, Yang X, Li Z, Albasher G, Alsultan N, et al.
    Environ Res, 2023 Jul 15;229:115781.
    PMID: 37076035 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115781
    Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have been extensively explored due to their harmful effects on individual health and the environment by interfering with hormone activity and disrupting the endocrine system. However, their relationship with essential trace elements remains uncertain. This research aimed to investigate the possible correlation between essential trace elements and toxic metals, including cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) in children aged 1-5 years with various infectious diseases, including gastrointestinal disorders, typhoid fever, and pneumonia. The study was conducted on biological testing and specimen (scalp hair and whole blood) of diseased and non-diseased children of the same residential area and referent/control age-matched children from developed cities consuming domestically treated water. The media of biological samples were oxidized by an acid mixture before being analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The accuracy and validity of the methodology were verified through accredited reference material from scalp hair and whole blood sample. The study results revealed that diseased children had lower mean values of essential trace elements (iron, copper, and zinc) in both scalp hair and blood, except for copper, which was found to be higher in blood samples of diseased children. This implies that the deficiency of essential residue and trace elements in children from rural areas who consume groundwater is linked to various infectious diseases. The study highlights the need for more human biomonitoring of EDCs to better comprehend their non-classical toxic properties and their concealed costs on human health. The findings suggest that exposure to EDCs could be associated with unfavorable health outcomes and emphasizes the need for future regulatory policies to minimize exposure and safeguard the health of current and forthcoming generations of children. Furthermore, the study highlights the implication of essential trace elements in maintaining good health and their potential correlation with toxic metals in the environment.
  11. Qureshi F, Yusuf M, Ibrahim H, Kamyab H, Chelliapan S, Pham CQ, et al.
    Environ Res, 2023 Jul 15;229:115963.
    PMID: 37105287 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115963
    Hydrogen (H2) is a possible energy transporter and feedstock for energy decarbonization, transportation, and chemical sectors while reducing global warming's consequences. The predominant commercial method for producing H2 today is steam methane reforming (SMR). However, there is still room for development in process intensification, energy optimization, and environmental concerns related to CO2 emissions. Reactors using metallic membranes (MRs) can handle both problems. Compared to traditional reactors, MRs operates at substantially lower pressures and temperatures. As a result, capital and operational costs may be significantly cheaper than traditional reactors. Furthermore, metallic membranes (MMs), particularly Pd and its alloys, naturally permit only H2 permeability, enabling the production of a stream with a purity of up to 99.999%. This review describes several methods for H2 production based on the energy sources utilized. SRM with CO2 capture and storage (CCUS), pyrolysis of methane, and water electrolysis are all investigated as process technologies. A debate based on a color code was also created to classify the purity of H2 generation. Although producing H2 using fossil fuels is presently the least expensive method, green H2 generation has the potential to become an affordable alternative in the future. From 2030 onward, green H2 is anticipated to be less costly than blue hydrogen. Green H2 is more expensive than fossil-based H2 since it uses more energy. Blue H2 has several tempting qualities, but the CCUS technology is pricey, and blue H2 contains carbon. At this time, almost 80-95% of CO2 can be stored and captured by the CCUS technology. Nanomaterials are becoming more significant in solving problems with H2 generation and storage. Sustainable nanoparticles, such as photocatalysts and bio-derived particles, have been emphasized for H2 synthesis. New directions in H2 synthesis and nanomaterials for H2 storage have also been discussed. Further, an overview of the H2 value chain is provided at the end, emphasizing the financial implications and outlook for 2050, i.e., carbon-free H2 and zero-emission H2.
  12. Kumar R, Basu A, Bishayee B, Chatterjee RP, Behera M, Ang WL, et al.
    Environ Res, 2023 Jul 15;229:115881.
    PMID: 37084947 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115881
    Tanning and other leather processing methods utilize a large amount of freshwater, dyes, chemicals, and salts and produce toxic waste, raising questions regarding their environmental sensitivity and eco-friendly nature. Total suspended solids, total dissolved solids, chemical oxygen demand, and ions such as chromium, sulfate, and chloride turn tannery wastewater exceedingly toxic for any living species. Therefore, it is imperative to treat tannery effluent, and existing plants must be examined and upgraded to keep up with recent technological developments. Different conventional techniques to treat tannery wastewater have been reported based on their pollutant removal efficiencies, advantages, and disadvantages. Research on photo-assisted catalyst-enhanced deterioration has inferred that both homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis can be established as green initiatives, the latter being more efficient at degrading organic pollutants. However, the scientific community experiences significant problems developing a feasible treatment technique owing to the long degradation times and low removal efficiency. Hence, there is a chance for an improved solution to the problem of treating tannery wastewater through the development of a hybrid technology that uses flocculation as the primary treatment, a unique integrated photo-catalyst in a precision-designed reactor as the secondary method, and finally, membrane-based tertiary treatment to recover the spent catalyst and reclaimable water. This review gives an understanding of the progressive advancement of a cutting-edge membrane-based system for the management of tanning industrial waste effluents towards the reclamation of clean water. Adaptable routes toward sludge disposal and the reviews on techno-economic assessments have been shown in detail, strengthening the scale-up confidence for implementing such innovative hybrid systems.
  13. Gautam A, Sharma P, Ashokhan S, Yaacob JS, Kumar V, Guleria P
    Environ Res, 2023 Jul 15;229:116023.
    PMID: 37121351 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116023
    A field study was conducted to investigate the influence of MgO-NPs priming on growth and development of mustard. Priming of mustard seeds before sowing with MgO-NPs at concentration 10, 50, 100, and 150 μg/ml enhanced the vegetative parameters of plants, with considerable increase in leaf area. MgO-NPs exposure increased the photosynthetic pigment accumulation in mustard that led to increase in biomass, carbohydrate content, and the yield in terms of total grain yield. Increased chlorophyll has simultaneously increased the oxidative stress in plants, and hence stimulated their antioxidant potential. A consistent increase was observed in the content of mustard polyphenols and activity of SOD, CAT, and APX on MgO-NPs exposure. MgO-NPs induced oxidative stress further reduced the protein content and bioavailability in mustard. We further, evaluated the influence of MgO-NPs on the quality of mustard harvested seeds. The seeds harvested from nanoprimed mustard possessed increased antioxidant potential and reduced oxidative stress. The carbohydrate and protein accumulation was significantly enhanced in response to nanopriming. Reduced chlorophyll content in seeds obtained from nanoprimed mustard indicated their potential for disease resistance and stability on long term storage. Therefore, the seeds harvested from MgO-NPs primed mustard were biochemically rich and more stable. Therefore, MgO-NPs priming can be potentially used as a novel strategy for growth promotion in plants where leaves are economically important and a strategy to enhance the seed quality under long term storage conditions.
  14. Arifin MN, Jusoh R, Abdullah H, Ainirazali N, Setiabudi HD
    Environ Res, 2023 Jul 15;229:115936.
    PMID: 37080279 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115936
    The presence of phenolic compounds in the aquatic environment has posed severe risks due to their toxicity. Among the phenolic families, nitro- and alkyl-phenolic compounds have been categorized as precedence contaminants by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). Therefore, efficient treatment methods for wastewater containing nitro- and alkyl-phenolic compounds are urgently needed. Due to the advantages of creating reactive species and generating efficient degradation of hazardous contaminants in wastewater, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are well-known in the field of treating toxic contaminants. In this review paper, the recent directions in AOPs, catalysts, mechanisms, and kinetics of AOPs are comprehensively reviewed. Furthermore, the conclusion summarizes the research findings, future prospects, and opportunities for this study. The main direction of AOPs lies on the optimization of catalyst and operating parameters, with industrial applications remain as the main challenge. This review article is expected to present a summary and in-depth understanding of AOPs development; and thus, inspiring scientists to accelerate the evolution of AOPs in industrial applications.
  15. Tong CY, Honda K, Derek CJC
    Environ Res, 2023 Jul 01;228:115872.
    PMID: 37054838 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115872
    Mass microalgal-bacterial co-cultures have come to the fore of applied physiological research, in particularly for the optimization of high-value metabolite from microalgae. These co-cultures rely on the existence of a phycosphere which harbors unique cross-kingdom associations that are a prerequisite for the cooperative interactions. However, detailed mechanisms underpinning the beneficial bacterial effects onto microalgal growth and metabolic production are rather limited at the moment. Hence, the main purpose of this review is to shed light on how bacteria fuels microalgal metabolism or vice versa during mutualistic interactions, building upon the phycosphere which is a hotspot for chemical exchange. Nutrients exchange and signal transduction between two not only increase the algal productivity, but also facilitate in the degradation of bio-products and elevate the host defense ability. Main chemical mediators such as photosynthetic oxygen, N-acyl-homoserine lactone, siderophore and vitamin B12 were identified to elucidate beneficial cascading effects from the bacteria towards microalgal metabolites. In terms of applications, the enhancement of soluble microalgal metabolites is often associated with bacteria-mediated cell autolysis while bacterial bio-flocculants can aid in microalgal biomass harvesting. In addition, this review goes in depth into the discussion on enzyme-based communication via metabolic engineering such as gene modification, cellular metabolic pathway fine-tuning, over expression of target enzymes, and diversion of flux toward key metabolites. Furthermore, possible challenges and recommendations aimed at stimulating microalgal metabolite production are outlined. As more evidence emerges regarding the multifaceted role of beneficial bacteria, it will be crucial to incorporate these findings into the development of algal biotechnology.
  16. Moharir KN, Pande CB, Gautam VK, Singh SK, Rane NL
    Environ Res, 2023 Jul 01;228:115832.
    PMID: 37054834 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115832
    The Damoh district, which is located in the central India and characterized by limestone, shales, and sandstone compact rock. The district has been facing groundwater development challenges and problems for several decades. To facilitate groundwater management, it is crucial to monitoring and planning based on geology, slope, relief, land use, geomorphology, and the types of the basaltic aquifer in the drought-groundwater deficit area. Moreover, the majority of farmers in the area are heavily dependent on groundwater for their crops. Therefore, delineation of groundwater potential zones (GPZ) is essential, which is defined based on various thematic layers, including geology, geomorphology, slope, aspect, drainage density, lineament density, topographic wetness index (TWI), topographic ruggedness index (TRI), and land use/land cover (LULC). The processing and analysis of this information were carried out using Geographic Information System (GIS) and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) methods. The validity of the results was trained and tested using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves, which showed training and testing accuracies of 0.713 and 0.701, respectively. The GPZ map was classified into five classes such as very high, high, moderate, low, and very low. The study revealed that approximately 45% of the area falls under the moderate GPZ, while only 30% of the region is classified as having a high GPZ. The area receives high rainfall but has very high surface runoff due to no proper developed soil and lack of water conservation structures. Every summer season show a declined groundwater level. In this context, results of study area are useful to maintain the groundwater under climate change and summer season. The GPZ map plays an important role in implementing artificial recharge structures (ARS), such as percolation ponds, tube wells, bore wells, cement nala bunds (CNBs), continuous contour trenching (CCTs), and others for development of ground level. This study is significant for developing sustainable groundwater management policies in semi-arid regions, that are experiencing climate change. Proper groundwater potential mapping and watershed development policies can help mitigate the effects of drought, climate change, and water scarcity, while preserving the ecosystem in the Limestone, Shales, and Sandstone compact rock region. The results of this study are essential for farmers, regional planners, policy-makers, climate change experts, and local governments, enabling them to understand the groundwater development possibilities in the study area.
  17. Jangjou A, Moqadas M, Mohsenian L, Kamyab H, Chelliapan S, Alshehery S, et al.
    Environ Res, 2023 Jul 01;228:115886.
    PMID: 37072082 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115886
    Intoxication with methanol most commonly occurs as a consequence of ingesting, inhaling, or coming into contact with formulations that include methanol as a base. Clinical manifestations of methanol poisoning include suppression of the central nervous system, gastrointestinal symptoms, and decompensated metabolic acidosis, which is associated with impaired vision and either early or late blindness within 0.5-4 h after ingestion. After ingestion, methanol concentrations in the blood that are greater than 50 mg/dl should raise some concern. Ingested methanol is typically digested by alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), and it is subsequently redistributed to the body's water to attain a volume distribution that is about equivalent to 0.77 L/kg. Moreover, it is removed from the body as its natural, unchanged parent molecules. Due to the fact that methanol poisoning is relatively uncommon but frequently involves a large number of victims at the same time, this type of incident occupies a special position in the field of clinical toxicology. The beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an increase in erroneous assumptions regarding the preventative capability of methanol in comparison to viral infection. More than 1000 Iranians fell ill, and more than 300 of them passed away in March of this year after they consumed methanol in the expectation that it would protect them from a new coronavirus. The Atlanta epidemic, which involved 323 individuals and resulted in the deaths of 41, is one example of mass poisoning. Another example is the Kristiansand outbreak, which involved 70 people and resulted in the deaths of three. In 2003, the AAPCC received reports of more than one thousand pediatric exposures. Since methanol poisoning is associated with high mortality rates, it is vital that the condition be addressed seriously and managed as quickly as feasible. The objective of this review was to raise awareness about the mechanism and metabolism of methanol toxicity, the introduction of therapeutic interventions such as gastrointestinal decontamination and methanol metabolism inhibition, the correction of metabolic disturbances, and the establishment of novel diagnostic/screening nanoparticle-based strategies for methanol poisoning such as the discovery of ADH inhibitors as well as the detection of the adulteration of alcoholic drinks by nanoparticles in order to prevent methanol poisoning. In conclusion, increasing warnings and knowledge about clinical manifestations, medical interventions, and novel strategies for methanol poisoning probably results in a decrease in the death load.
  18. Tawalbeh M, Mohammed S, Al-Othman A, Yusuf M, Mofijur M, Kamyab H
    Environ Res, 2023 Jul 01;228:115919.
    PMID: 37072081 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115919
    The rapid increase in the global population and its ever-rising standards of living are imposing a huge burden on global resources. Apart from the rising energy needs, the demand for freshwater is correspondingly increasing. A population of around 3.8 billion people will face water scarcity by 2030, as per the reports of the World Water Council. This may be due to global climate change and the deficiency in the treatment of wastewater. Conventional wastewater treatment technologies fail to completely remove several emerging contaminants, especially those containing pharmaceutical compounds. Hence, leading to an increase in the concentration of harmful chemicals in the human food chain and the proliferation of several diseases. MXenes are transition metal carbide/nitride ceramics that primarily structure the leading 2D material group. MXenes act as novel nanomaterials for wastewater treatment due to their high surface area, excellent adsorption properties, and unique physicochemical properties, such as high electrical conductivity and hydrophilicity. MXenes are highly hydrophilic and covered with active functional groups (i.e., hydroxyl, oxygen, fluorine, etc.), which makes them efficient adsorbents for a wide range of species and promising candidates for environmental remediation and water treatment. This work concludes that the scaling up process of MXene-based materials for water treatment is currently of high cost. The up-to-date applications are still limited because MXenes are currently produced mainly in the laboratory with limited yield. It is recommended to direct research efforts towards lower synthesis cost procedures coupled with the use of more environmentally friendly materials to avoid secondary contamination.
  19. Tran TV, Jalil AA, Nguyen DTC, Nguyen TM, Alhassan M, Nabgan W, et al.
    Environ Res, 2023 May 15;225:115516.
    PMID: 36805897 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115516
    Tetracycline (TCC) and sulfadiazine (SDZ) are two of the most consumed antibiotics for human therapies and bacterial infection treatments in aquafarming fields, but their accumulative residues can result in negative effects on water and aquatic microorganisms. Removal techniques are therefore required to purify water before use. Herein, we concentrate on adsorptive removal of TCC and SDZ using cobalt@carbon nanotubes (Co@CNTs) derived from Co-ZIF-67. The presence of CNTs on the edge of nanocomposites was observed. Taguchi orthogonal array was designed with four variables including initial concentration (5-20 mg L-1), dosage (0.05-0.2 g L-1), time (60-240 min), and pH (2-10). Concentration and pH were found to be main contributors to adsorption of tetracycline and sulfadiazine, respectively. The optimum condition was found at concentration 5 mg L-1, dosage 0.2 g L-1, contact time 240 min, and pH 7 for both TCC and SDZ removals. Confirmation tests showed that Co@CNTs-700 removed 99.6% of TCC and 97.3% of SDZ with small errors (3-5.5%). Moreover, the kinetic and isotherm were studied, which kinetic and isotherm data were best fitted with pseudo second-order model and Langmuir. Maximum adsorption capacity values for TCC and SDZ were determined at 118.4-174.1 mg g-1 for 180 min. We also proposed the main role of interactions such as hydrogen bonding, π-π stacking, and electrostatic attraction in the adsorption of antibiotics. With high adsorption performance, Co@CNTs-700 is expected to remove antibiotics efficiently from wastewater.
  20. Yu H, Zahidi I, Liang D
    Environ Res, 2023 May 15;225:115634.
    PMID: 36889570 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115634
    Dexing City is an important mining city in China, abounding in copper ore, lead ore, zinc ore, and other metal resources, and there are two large open-pit mines in its territory, Dexing Copper Mine and Yinshan Mine. The two open-pit mines have been expanding their mining production scale since 2005, with frequent mining activities; and the expansion of the pits and the discharge of solid waste will undoubtedly increase the land use and cause the destruction of vegetation. Therefore, we plan to visualize the change in vegetation cover in Dexing City from 2005 to 2020 and the expansion of the two open-pit mines by calculating changes of the Fractional Vegetation Cover (FVC) in the mining area using remote sensing technology. In this study, we calculated the FVC of Dexing City in 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020 using data from NASA Landsat Database via ENVI image analysis software, plotted the FVC reclassified maps via ArcGIS, and conducted field investigations in the mining areas of Dexing City. In this way, we can visualize the spatial and temporal changes of vegetation cover in Dexing City from 2005 to 2020, and appreciate the situation of mining expansion and its solid waste discharge in Dexing City. The results of this study showed that the vegetation cover of Dexing City remained stable from 2005 to 2020, as the expansion of mining scale and mine pits was accompanied by active environmental management and land reclamation, setting a positive example for other mining cities.
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