Black Substance Research Articles

Biocontrol potential of some bacterial and fungal isolates against the terrestrial snail, Monacha obstructa, evaluating their laboratory and field efficiency

BackgroundThe land snail Monacha obstructa, commonly known as the glassy clover snail, poses a significant threat to crops, causing substantial damage in agriculture and horticulture. It particularly thrives in regions of Egypt, where it can reproduce rapidly, leading to substantial population increases and consequent damage. This study aimed to perform laboratory experiments and field trials to assess the effectiveness of bacterial (Bacillus thuringiensis) and fungal (Metarhizium anisopliae and Trichoderma harzianum) isolates, as well as methomyl, a carbamate compound approved by the Ministry of Agriculture in Egypt against the terrestrial snails. Various methods including contact and leaf dipping as well as baiting techniques were applied under both laboratory and field conditions, using spray and baiting techniques.ResultsBacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and M. anisopliae isolates showed the most effective results outcomes in comparison with methomyl against M. obstructa. Out of all the application approaches tested, the residual film (contact) technique of these microorganisms proved to be the most potent, with LC50 values of 6.49 × 106 cells/ml Bt (after 14 days), 1.24 × 108 and 1.49 × 108 spores/ml (M. anisopliae, T. harzianum, respectively), after 21 days and 620 ppm, for methomyl after 7 days of treatments. Besides, the findings demonstrated that Bt exhibited the highest success rate in decreasing the number of snails in the field. It was also observed that pathological symptoms increased as the duration of exposure increased, and the snails ceased to feed and showed a noticeable decline in their activity. A slimy, almost tan-like substance coated the exterior of their shells for Bt, and part of the soft body came out of the shell for M. anisopliae. In the case of T. harzianum, fungus hypha growth took on a white color formed inside the shell, and in addition, a black substance formed on the mouth of the shell.ConclusionsThe gathered data revealed that Bt and M. anisopliae effectively combatted the terrestrial snail, making them viable options in integrated pest control as substitutes for pesticides.

A Breeding Plumage in the Making: The Unique Process of Plumage Coloration in the Crested Ibis in Terms of Chemical Composition and Sex Hormones.

The Crested Ibis (Nipponia nippon) has long fascinated ornithologists with its enigmatic plumage color change. After more than a century of curiosity, the mystery was finally unraveled in the 1970s, unveiling the mechanism behind this remarkable transformation. Unlike other bird species, the Crested Ibis achieves its nuptial plumage coloration through a unique daubing behavior. After a water-bathing, it applies a sticky black substance secreted by a patch of skin in the neck and throat region. However, the chemical components of this black substance have not been studied in detail until now. To address this issue, we conducted a study to detect the components of the black substance and explore the relationship between sex hormone levels and the secretion of the black substance. We used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure the monthly changes in steroid hormone levels (estradiol E2, testosterone T, and progesterone PROG) levels in feces. We also analyzed the correlation between sex hormone levels and daubing behavior. The results showed that the sex hormone levels are closely related to the secretion and application of the black substance. In addition, we qualitatively analyzed the chemical components of the black substance using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), uncovering the presence of 117 distinct chemical components. We assume that the black coloration results from the polymerization of selected chemical constituents among these components. These findings provide a groundwork for further exploration into the biological significance of the black substance. Overall, our study detected components in the black substance and studied how sex hormone levels relate to its secretion. Understanding the hormone effects on coloration helps in precise habitat management, like wetland preservation, crucial for Crested Ibis survival. Implementing hormone-boosting measures during breeding seasons enhances reproduction and health, vital for their conservation.

HUNTINGTON'S DISEASE. CLINICAL CASE

Huntington's disease is a neurodegenerative disease that affects basal ganglia in the white matter of the nervous system, tailed nucleus, thalamus, black substance, limbic system, cerebral cortex, cerebellum, manifested by autosome-dominant drive. In patients with early debut, the clinical course is more severe than in the classical form. In the absence of proper symptomatic treatment, neurological signs become more severe and sharply expressive.

Metal Exchangeability in the REE-Enriched Biogenic Mn Oxide Birnessite from Ytterby, Sweden

A black substance exuding from fractures was observed in 2012 in Ytterby mine, Sweden, and identified in 2017 as birnessite with the composition Mx[Mn(III,IV)]2O4∙(H2O)n. M is usually calcium and sodium, with x around 0.5. The Ytterby birnessite is unique, with M being calcium, magnesium, and also rare earth elements (REEs) constituting up to 2% of the total metal content. The biogenic origin of the birnessite was established in 2018. Analysis of the microbial processes leading to the birnessite formation and the REE enrichment has continued since then. The process is fast and dynamic, as indicated by the depletion of manganese and of REE and other metals in the fracture water during the passage over the precipitation zone in the mine tunnel. Studies of the exchangeability of metals in the structure are the main objective of the present program. Exposure to solutions of sodium, calcium, lanthanum, and iron led to exchanges and altered distribution of the metals in the birnessite, however, generating phases with almost identical structures after the exchanges, and no new mineral phases were detected. Exchangeability was more efficient for trivalent elements (REE) over divalent (calcium) and monovalent (sodium) elements of a similar size (ionic radii 90–100 pm).

Effect of Commercial Black Ink on the Optical Properties of P(St-MMA-AA) Microsphere Photonic Crystal Coating on Wood Surface

The mixed emulsion of P(St-MMA-AA) colloidal microspheres doped with black substances in three commercial inks (pen ink, wood color essence, propylene pigment) was coated on the wood surface. The dried colloidal microspheres self-assembled on the wood surface to form a three-dimensional photonic crystal coating. The influence of the coating on the optical properties of the wood surface was analyzed, and the influence of the type, concentration and drying temperature of the black substance on the structural color coating was explored. When three kinds of commercial black ink were mixed with colloidal microsphere emulsion to obtain photonic crystals on the wood surface, the transmitted light and the scattered light outside the photonic band gap were absorbed by black ink, which effectively reduced the light scattering inside the crystal and significantly enhanced the depth of the photonic crystal structure color. This study utilizes both pigment color and structural color, providing an environmentally friendly and novel method for colored coating of wood surfaces.

Detection of Parkinson’s disease based on spectrograms of voice recordings and Extreme Learning Machine random weight neural networks

Parkinson’s disease consists in the degeneration of the mesencephalic black substance, affecting the dopaminergic vias. Its causes are varied, including exposure to pesticides, genetic factors and, one of the most influential ones, age. Given the decrease in dopamine levels, the most common symptoms are the appearance of tremors and muscle rigidity. Due to the rigidity of the muscles, the patient has voice alterations which have great potential for non-invasive and early diagnosis of the disease. In addition, considering the low cost of the sound recorder respect to the clinical studies, this approach allows the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease in a large number of people. Recent works, which present the analysis of voice recordings through Convolutional Neural Networks, show high level of accuracy in the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. Convolutional Neural Networks use a Multilayer Neural Network to classify convolutional feature vectors. In order to improve the training time of the classifier, in this paper the use Extreme Learning Machines are proposed. Experiments considering 4 types of spectrograms with AlexNet, VGG-16, SqueezeNet, Inception V3 and ResNet-50 Convolutional Neural Networks models. In the experiments, hit rate, training and testing time, sensitivity and the specificity indicators of all the neural architectures involved in the work are objectively compared. It is shown that the Extreme Learning Machine have a high level of accuracy in the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease but with reduced training time.

Hydrogen Absorption in Near Surface of Lithium-ion Conductive Glass Ceramics by Water Uptake at Room Temperature

The hydrogen isotope (H and D) concentrations in the two types of Li1+xAlxTi1−x/2Ge1−x/2P3−yO12 and Li1+x+yAlxTi2−xSiyP3−yO12 (LATP: AG-01 and SP-01, respectively) electrolytes, soaked in D2O for 19—22 days and subsequently exposed to air at room temperature and humidity of 80% for 11—21 days, were measured by combining elastic recoil detection with Rutherford backscattering spectrometry. The total numbers of H and D atoms in AG-01 and SP-01 were estimated to be approximately 5.0 and 0.66 atoms, respectively, after the absorption of H2O and D2O and the replacement of H by D. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy images revealed that many black substance formations with dimensions of approximately 0.5 × 3.0 μm2 in area and less than approximately 200 nm in thickness appeared on the surface of the D2O-soaked and air-exposed AG-01. These formations appeared because of the segregation of Li from the bulk to the surface by the reactions of H2O and D2O with the doped Ge, which might lead to H and D trapping at the Li substitutional sites.

Effect of aeration on water quality and sediment humus in rural black-odorous water

Black-odorous water, which exists widely in rural areas of China, affects the living environments of residents and causes a loss of ecosystem functions, and improper treatment may even cause secondary pollution. Moreover, the transformation relationships among the components of humus in the sediments of black-odorous water are largely unknown. Therefore, it is necessary to select appropriate methods for treating black-odorous water in rural areas and to understand the characteristics of humus in sediment during the treatment process. In this study, the use of aeration in treating black-odorous water and interstitial water in rural areas was studied and the effects of different treatment methods on the contents and spectral characteristics of humus components in sediments were explored. It was found that the quality of the treated water improved from severe black-odorous to nonblack-odorous, the colour of the sediment changed from black to greyish-brown to turquoise, and the odour changed from strong to weak. The removal rates of ammonia nitrogen, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and chemical oxygen demand in the sediment aeration group reached more than 50% in the upper water, and more than 70% in the interstitial water. After treatment, the content of fulvic acid, the main black substance in sediment, decreased by 0.36–1.58 g/kg, and the molecular structure of the humus was simplified.

Нерудні мінерали прожилково-вкрапленої мінералізації у відкладах Кросненської зони Українських Карпат (район нового Бескидського залізничного тунелю)

The construction of the new Beskydy railway tunnel, which revealed the indigenous deposits of the Krosno formation of the Ukrainian Carpathians, provided an opportunity to obtain new results from the study of another prospective oil and gas-bearing areas of the flysch formation within the Krosno structural-facies unit. There is a second tunnel in length in Ukraine and passes under the Verkhovyna watershed ridge of the Ukrainian Carpathians. Its section is represented by the rocks of the Krosno formation, namely the stratification of sandstones, argillites and silt stones. There are two fracture zones have been indentified here, in which developed veinle-impregnated mineralization of ore (sulfides) and non-ore (calcite and quartz type of the “Marmarosh diamonds”) minerals. Calcite and quartz formas monominerals veins and in paragenesis calcite-quartz type of the “Marmarosh diamonds” ‒ sulfides. Quartz occurs in the form of splice sand well-faceted crystals, transparent, in yellow, brown, black, green colour. Calcite of a milky, translucent colour in the form of veins, veinlets, impregnation, powder on quartz, druz. Contains significant impurities of magnesium, manganese and iron which means the presence of a rhodochrosite-magnesite-siderite component. Hydrocarbon fluids are present in all calcite and quartz crystals of the “Marmarosh diamonds” type. By chemical composition, it is methane with impurities of higher hydrocarbons (up to hexane). Sometimes the manifestations of the outflow of a black substance with the smell of oil from the cracks in the veinlet-impregnated mineralization are recorded studied rock complexes of the flysch formation of the Krosno zone of the Ukrainian Carpathians (construction area of the new branch of the Beskydy railway tunnel), which acquires an important genetic significance.

A Psychoanalysis of Milk: The Case of Alfred Hitchcock

A Psychoanalysis of Milk: The Case of Alfred Hitchcock

Токсичні моделі паркінсонізму: історія та перспективи

The review article presents data on the history of research of extrapyramidal system dysfunctions, modern ideas about the etiology and diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, as the most common disease of the group of extrapyramidal disorders. Currently, no concept of effective therapy for patients with extrapyramidal system dysfunction has been developed, but it has been proven that the probability of developing the disease largely depends on the genetic predisposition and the level of environmental pollution. In the early stages, the disease is slow and asymptomatic, but gradually more than half of patients with Parkinson's disease die, and others need outside care. According to experts, in the near future, Parkinson's disease will become a problem for a significant part of people, because today it affects more and more people of working age. Under such conditions, reliable and early diagnosis of the disease is of great importance, which guarantees timely and most effective treatment. Modern therapies fail to stop the progressive death of the dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra, but traditional treatment can achieve symptomatic relief. Currently, it is known that the probability of developing Parkinson's disease depends on the genetic predisposition and the level of man-made environmental stress. The researchers consider that the pathological development of Parkinson's disease in the brain begins in the lower structures of the brain stem with the involvement of the caudal-Rostral nuclei, as well as the involvement of the cortico-basal ganglia-cerebellar pathways. The pathological process affects the ascending pathways and gradually passes to the midbrain, directly to the black substance, spreads from there and weakens the mesocortex and neocortex. Injuries in the brain stem lead to disorganization of the cortico-basal ganglia and cerebellar pathways, followed by the formation of alternative pathways to compensate for the initial disorders in the early stages of the disease. In addition, in Parkinson's disease, intracellular Lewy bodies and neurites formed by the protein alpha-synuclein are created, which are found in the autopsy material of most patients. Poor results of diagnostic evaluation and treatment of Parkinson's disease are usually associated with a lack of understanding of the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. The study of the biological basis and pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease is an important task of a whole complex of scientific studies of extrapyramidal system dysfunction. Conclusion. The article discusses the creation of toxic models of Parkinson's disease in vivo and in vitro, which help to recreate the pathogenesis of the disease for early diagnosis and the development of new ways to treat neurodegenerative diseases. In toxic models of Parkinsonism, not only deficits of motor functions such as bradykinesia, tremor, and posture disorders are actively studied, but also non-motor symptoms such as sleep disorders, neuropsychiatric and cognitive abnormalities

Letter: Outcomes and Spectrum of Major Neurovascular Events Among COVID-19 Patients: A 3-Center Experience.

To the Editor: We read with great interest the article published by Taylor et al1 entitled “Outcomes and Spectrum of Major Neurovascular Events Among COVID-19 Patients: A 3-Center Experience,” where the authors describe the clinical course and results of a series of cases of patients with COVID-19, who developed cerebrovascular events. We thank the authors1 for providing this type of evidence, which is considered valuable; however, we would like to make some observations. Patients affected by COVID-19 may have multiple neurological manifestations in addition to cerebrovascular involvement. In a systematic review, the following neurological disorders were found in descending order of prevalence: headache (16.8%), dizziness (13.9%), altered state of consciousness (11.2%), vomiting (6.3%), epileptic seizures (1.7%), neuralgia (1.2%), and ataxia (0.7%), being the stroke, the presumptive diagnosis in the third place of consideration, below the acute viral meningoencephalitis and the hypoxic encephalopathy, evidencing then that the suspicion of stroke becomes difficult.2 Additionally, Chen et al3 reported that anosmia and dysgeusia (nonspecific symptoms) are the most common neurological symptoms in patients with COVID-19, so the approach for these individuals based on their risk factors to decrease the likelihood of developing complications such as stroke is complex.3 They also found that acute cerebrovascular episodes occurred mainly in patients with advanced age, severe progression of COVID-19 disease, cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, diabetes), and history of cardiovascular disease.3 Advanced age remains one of the main risk factors for the development of severe cerebrovascular events in this type of patients. Goldberg et al4 reported a case of COVID-19 with acute cerebral infarction, due to the instability of a proximal stenosis of the internal carotid artery at the bifurcation level, and decreased distal flow in the right medial cerebral artery and in both anterior cerebral arteries.4 Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been described as a neurotropic virus, from which numerous mechanisms of injury to nervous tissue have been postulated, such as, through the infection of the olfactory epithelium, infection of peripheral nerve endings with structural spread, vascular diffusion, and lesion secondary to immune response, among others, which could ultimately cause serious complications of the disease such as infectious toxic encephalopathy, acute viral meningoencephalitis, and severe cerebrovascular disease.5 Finally, endothelial damage is an extremely important element in the pathogenesis of stroke in patients with COVID-19, because, at the local level, SARS-CoV-2 infects cells by binding the virus's Spike protein to the angiotensin-converting enzyme receptor 2 (ACE2) expressed in the capillary endothelium. Expression of this receptor was recently found in other superspecialized tissues such as glial cells,6 cerebral cortex, black substance, brain stem, posterior area of the hypothalamus, and striated body.7 In this order of ideas, not only patients who express the phenotype of COVID-19 may have a risk of thrombogenesis and cerebral ischemia due to the instability of previous pathological conditions, but the state of biochemical hypercoagulability that generates direct vascular injury is sufficient to compromise a person's life or functional capacity. Funding This study did not receive any funding or financial support. Disclosures The authors have no personal, financial, or institutional interest in any of the drugs, materials, or devices described in this article.

Study on Thermal Response of Adhesively Bonded Honeycomb Sandwich Structure in High Temperature

Thermal response of the honeycomb sandwich structure was evaluated using the steady-state method at different temperatures ranging from 100°C to 400°C. The results showed that effective thermal conductivity decreases when the temperature set is over 300°C, and the critical temperature is about 310°C. As a result, a set of experiments was conducted to observe the inner structure of the sandwich in a quest to understand why the thermal conductivity decreases. A black substance was found, and it adhered to the interfaces between the faces and the core where the adhesive is located. A series of experiments were carried out to study the thermal response of the adhesive. The TG curves showed that the total mass loss of adhesive can reach 90% due to the thermal decomposition, which can absorb a portion of energy. Meanwhile, the black substance was also produced during the TG measurements and its carbon content reached 64.38%.

Microbiomes in a manganese oxide producing ecosystem in the Ytterby mine, Sweden: impact on metal mobility.

ABSTRACTMicrobe-mediated precipitation of Mn-oxides enriched in rare earth elements (REE) and other trace elements was discovered in tunnels leading to the main shaft of the Ytterby mine, Sweden. Defining the spatial distribution of microorganisms and elements in this ecosystem provide a better understanding of specific niches and parameters driving the emergence of these communities and associated mineral precipitates. Along with elemental analyses, high-throughput sequencing of the following four subsystems were conducted: (i) water seeping from a rock fracture into the tunnel, (ii) Mn-oxides and associated biofilm; referred to as the Ytterby Black Substance (YBS) biofilm (iii) biofilm forming bubbles on the Mn-oxides; referred to as the bubble biofilm and (iv) fracture water that has passed through the biofilms. Each subsystem hosts a specific collection of microorganisms. Differentially abundant bacteria in the YBS biofilm were identified within the Rhizobiales (e.g. Pedomicrobium), PLTA13 Gammaproteobacteria, Pirellulaceae, Hyphomonadaceae, Blastocatellia and Nitrospira. These taxa, likely driving the Mn-oxide production, were not detected in the fracture water. This biofilm binds Mn, REE and other trace elements in an efficient, dynamic process, as indicated by substantial depletion of these metals from the fracture water as it passes through the Mn deposit zone. Microbe-mediated oxidation of Mn(II) and formation of Mn(III/IV)-oxides can thus have considerable local environmental impact by removing metals from aquatic environments.

Influences of Neuromuscular Facilitation in the hamstrings and quadriceps muscles of Parkinsonian elderly.

Introduction: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a type of neurodegenerative disease that affects between 4.1 and 4.6 million people in the 10 most populous nations of the world, worldwide approximately 7 million people are affected by PD, both affected with age or more than 50 years, this problem affects the independent subjects of sex and its most important pathological finding is the injury of the black substance, which is located in the basal ganglia Objective: to evaluate and quantify the effects of PNF technique on individuals Parkinsonian residents in Coari-AM city, being evaluated areas of strength and flexibility of the hamstrings and quadriceps muscles. Methods: five elderly diagnosed with PD and mean age 82.5 ± 10.33 were performed, anamnesis, screening and evaluation of the strength and flexibility of the quadriceps and hamstring muscles bilaterally. The treatment protocol consisted of 10 sessions, often at least 3 times a week and estimated treatment time 50 minutes. Results: It was observed that all the muscles tested positive at the beginning of treatment, for flexibility and power of them, however, after the application of any treatment, the quadriceps muscles did not show statistically significant improvement since the hamstring muscles presented significant improvements in both strength and flexibility, when analyzed belatedly. The results were adopted with significance values p <0.05. Conclusion: The PNF technique was positive for the immediate gains of flexibility and strength, however, after 10 sessions program, the results showed little variation, there were no significant differences in the strength of the quadriceps after the treatment program.

Bitumen from the Dead Sea in Early Iron Age Nubia

Bitumen has been identified for the first time in Egyptian occupied Nubia, from within the town of Amara West, occupied from around 1300 to 1050 BC. The bitumen can be sourced to the Dead Sea using biomarkers, evidencing a trade in this material from the eastern Mediterranean to Nubia in the New Kingdom or its immediate aftermath. Two different end uses for bitumen were determined at the site. Ground bitumen was identified in several paint palettes, and in one case can be shown to have been mixed with plant gum, which indicates the use of bitumen as a ground pigment. Bitumen was also identified as a component of a friable black solid excavated from a tomb, and a black substance applied to the surface of a painted and plastered coffin fragment. Both contained plant resin, indicating that this substance was probably applied as a ritual funerary liquid, a practice identified from this time period in Egypt. The use of this ritual, at a far remove from the royal Egyptian burial sites at Thebes, indicates the importance of this ritual as a component of the funeral, and the value attributed to the material components of the black liquid.

Changes in iron content in brain structures during aging and associated neurodegenerative diseases

The literature data on changes in the content of iron and its metabolites in brain structures during aging and neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson's disease - PD and Alzheimer's disease - AD) are analyzed. It was revealed that with aging, the iron content in nigrostriatal formations of brain changes: the level of non-heme iron and ferritin increases and neuromelanin also accumulates in neurons of black substance. The accumulation of neuromelanin in combination with increase in ferritin content can be considered as a morphochemical sign of neuroprotective effect of nervous tissue during aging. The iron level in PD and AD compared with that during physiological aging continues to increase, and the ability of chelating agents to bind iron decreases (ferritin in neuroglia cells and neuromelanin in neurons), which activates the mechanisms of cell destruction. As a result, in PD, the aggregation of α-synuclein is disrupted, which leads to the formation of Levi bodies, and in AD, the amyloid beta precursor protein (APP) undergoes proteolysis and this leads to the formation of amyloid plaques, which triggers subsequent neurodegenerative changes, including the death of neurons.

Crystal Structures and Thermal Properties of L-MnC4H4O6•2H2O and DL-MnC4H4O6•2H2O

Manganese L-tartrate dihydrate, L-MnC4H4O6·2H2O, and manganese DL-tartrate dihydrate, DL-MnC4H4O6·2H2O, crystals were grown at room temperature by the gel method using silica gels as the growth medium. Differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis, and X-ray diffraction measurements were performed on both crystals. The space group symmetries (monoclinic P21 and P2/c) and structural parameters of the crystals were determined at room temperature. Both structures consisted of slightly distorted MnO6 octahedra, C4H4O6 and H2O molecules, and O–H···O hydrogen-bonding frameworks between adjacent molecules. Weight losses due to thermal decomposition of the crystals were found to occur in the temperature range of 300–1150 K. We inferred that the weight losses were caused by the evaporation of bound 2H2O molecules, and the evolutions of gases from C4H4O4 and of (1/2)O2 gas from MnO2, and that the residual black substance left in the vessels after decomposition was manganese oxide (MnO).

Betulin-related esters from birch bark tar: Identification, origin and archaeological significance

Birch bark tar, an organic material frequently encountered during archaeological excavations, has been identified from its lipid composition on the cracks of a ceramic dated to the late Neolithic. Lipids of this black substance were dominated by a characteristic triterpenoid assemblage of lupane-related triterpenoids from birch bark, together with their thermal degradation products formed during preparation of the tar. Among the latter, four main series of unusual triterpenoid esters have been detected and were postulated to correspond to esters of Δ 2-betulin and Δ2-dihydrobetulin based on their mass spectra and hydrolysis experiments. Their conclusive identification has been achieved by synthesis of reference compounds. These compounds most likely originate from the esterification between triterpenoid alcohols related to betulin and fatty acids from suberin formed upon heating of birch bark tar. They could be considered as markers of intense heating during birch bark tar preparation using the “single pot” procedure.

Class action for prevention and mitigation of soots in Rivers State of Nigeria: lessons from other jurisdictions

The residents of Port Harcourt and its environs recently experienced black substance, known as carbon or soot with dull brown particles produced by incomplete combustion of crude oil and other waste materials within the environs. Many residents, including the government are really concerned about the impacts of this substance on public health, and the ecosystem. This concern is germane because of the trans- boundary nature of carbon emissions, and coupled with the serious negative health impacts on the residents. For now, it is not quite feasible to quantify the magnitude of impacts because some impacts are temporary while others are irreversible. Being a novel occurrence in this part of the world, some traditional legal and regulatory frameworks did not anticipate this occurrence and are thus inadequate in addressing the problem. Similarly, private actions by aggrieved citizens had proven inadequate in redressing grave air pollution cases in Nigeria; hence the need for class action. The Rivers State Governments and other Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs) in the state seemed overwhelmed with this development since the soot was first noticed in 2016 but not much have been done by the relevant agencies of government, to stem this menace. We argue that past efforts by these agencies have largely been episodic thereby occasioning serious havoc to human health and the ecosystem around Port Harcourt. The objective of this paper is to appraise the causes of soot in Port Harcourt, determine appropriate preventive measures and makes appropriate recommendations, drawing lessons from other jurisdictions.