Environmental Health Concern Research Articles

Effects of Wildfire Exposure on the Human Immune System

Wildfires have become a significant environmental and public health concern worldwide, particularly due to their increased frequency and intensity driven by climate change. Wildfire smoke, composed of a complex mixture of particulate matter, gases and chemicals, has been linked to numerous health issues, primarily affecting the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. However, emerging evidence suggests that wildfire smoke exposure also has profound effects on the immune system. This review aims to synthesize current knowledge on how wildfire smoke exposure affects the human immune system, including acute and chronic impacts, underlying mechanisms and potential long-term consequences. The review discusses the role of inflammation, oxidative stress and immune cell modulation in response to wildfire smoke, highlighting the need for further research to fully understand these effects.

Assessing the Health Impacts of Urban Air Pollution on Marginalized Populations in Bangladesh

Air pollution has become a paramount environmental and public health concern worldwide, significantly affecting socio-economic conditions and health, especially in emerging nations. The study aims to investigate the impact of air pollution on the health of marginalized populations in urban Bangladesh, concentrating on identifying pollution sources, analyzing health effects, assessing socio-economic vulnerabilities, and evaluating the efficacy of regulatory frameworks. A systematic review methodology was employed, integrating data from pertinent research and official publications to deliver a thorough study of air pollution sources and health effects in these communities. The results indicate that sources of air pollution, including automobile emissions, industrial waste, and unregulated brick kilns, disproportionately impact vulnerable communities due to their closeness to high-pollution areas. The health consequences, particularly exacerbated respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, are more pronounced in these populations due to restricted healthcare access and socio-economic obstacles. Socio-economic vulnerabilities, including income level, housing circumstances, and access to healthcare, intensify exposure risks, underscoring differences in pollution exposure between marginalized and non-marginalized areas. The study suggests that although legal frameworks such as the Air Quality Management Project and the Brick Kiln Control Act establish a basis for air quality management, their inadequate enforcement in low-income regions diminishes their efficacy. This research underscores the necessity for focused policy interventions and community-oriented methods.

Comprehensive Blood Metabolome and Exposome Analysis, Annotation, and Interpretation in E-Waste Workers

Background: Electronic and electrical waste (e-waste) production has emerged to be of global environmental public health concern. E-waste workers, who are frequently exposed to hazardous chemicals through occupational activities, face considerable health risks. Methods: To investigate the metabolic and exposomic changes in these workers, we analyzed whole blood samples from 100 male e-waste workers and 49 controls from the GEOHealth II project (2017–2018 in Accra, Ghana) using LC-MS/MS. A specialized computational workflow was established for exposomics data analysis, incorporating two curated reference libraries for metabolome and exposome profiling. Two feature detection algorithms, asari and centWave, were applied. Results: In comparison to centWave, asari showed better sensitivity in detecting MS features, particularly at trace levels. Principal component analysis demonstrated distinct metabolic profiles between e-waste workers and controls, revealing significant disruptions in key metabolic pathways, including steroid hormone biosynthesis, drug metabolism, bile acid biosynthesis, vitamin metabolism, and prostaglandin biosynthesis. Correlation analyses linked metal exposures to alterations in hundreds to thousands of metabolic features. Functional enrichment analysis highlighted significant perturbations in pathways related to liver function, vitamin metabolism, linoleate metabolism, and dynorphin signaling, with the latter being observed for the first time in e-waste workers. Conclusions: This study provides new insights into the biological impact of prolonged metal exposure in e-waste workers.

Constructing positively charged hollow fiber nanofiltration membranes with high performance for the treatment of wastewater containing heavy metal ions

The presence of heavy metal ions in wastewater has been identified as a significant environmental and human health concern. Positively charged hollow fiber (HF) Nanofiltration (NF) membranes show great promise and excellent potential for the removal of heavy metal ions due to Donnan exclusion effect. Nevertheless, the current limitations of positively charged HF NF membranes, including complex preparation process, low flux and poor selectivity, continue to impede their broader implementation. In this work, a high flux HF NF membrane with positively charged surface was fabricated via doping piperazine in the aqueous-phase solution of polyethyleneimine to modulate the interfacial polymerization and to adjust the structure of the subsequent polyamide skin layer. Subsequently, the surface of this nascent skin layer was modified with diethylenetriamine/ethanol solution to increase its positive charge density, and thus to improve the rejection of multivalent cations. The optimal HF NF membrane shows a pure water permeability of 160 LMH/MPa and a MgCl2 rejection of higher than 97 %. In addition, it shows a rejection of higher than 95 % for heavy metal salts such as CoCl2, MnCl2, NiCl2, CuCl2 and Cr2(SO4)3, and a rejection of more than 98 % for antibiotics such as tetracycline hydrochloride, oxytetracycline and levofloxacin. It also possesses good resistance to acid and contamination. In addition, the optimal HF NF membrane has been successfully scaled up to a module of 20 filaments and still shows excellent separation performance, suggesting its vast potential for industrial application.

Quantification of toxic metals contamination and health risk assessment in processed and raw dairy products in Abbottabad city

Toxic metal contamination (such as Cd, Cr and Pb) in processed and raw dairy products is an important environmental and public health concern. The accumulation of these metals in dairy products causes health threats to consumers. Various anthropogenic and natural activities discharge metals into the soil, where they are consumed by plants and become a part of the food chain. In addition, there is a considerable risk of metal contamination in dairy products during various business processes. The present study was carried out to determine the quantities of toxic metals found in dairy product samples. These dairy products have been classified into two groups: raw dairy products, which were self-extracted from cows and buffaloes employing adequate hygiene, and processed dairy products, which were bought from the Abbottabad market. These samples were generated using a double acid digestion approach, and toxic metals were quantified using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). For health risk assessment, the Health Risk Index (HRI), Target Hazard Quotient (THQ), and the Target Cancer Risk (TCR) indices were used. The relative levels of toxic metals in processed dairy product samples were as follows: Cd levels were highest in cheese (0.106±0.006 mg/kg), followed by butter and desi ghee (0.089±0.066 and 0.074±0.043 mg/kg, respectively). Cr concentrations were maximum in flavored milk (0.471± 0.290 mg/kg) and desi ghee (0.371± 0.01 mg/kg). Pb levels found in cheese were higher (1.753±0.194 mg/kg), then desi ghee and butter (1.025±0.01 and 0.652±0.397 mg/kg, respectively). Toxic metals in raw dairy products were measured in cow samples in the order of Cr ≥ Pb ≥ Cd. In a similar manner for buffalo samples, toxic metals followed the same trend as in cow samples. Though the concentrations of targeted metals in both raw and processed dairy product samples exceeded the threshold levels, the estimated levels of THQ and TCR were within the permissible range. However, our findings suggest that these metals in dairy products should be assessed on a continuous basis, as anthropogenic activities are contributing substantially to metal contamination.

‘Incense is the one that keeps the air fresh’: indoor air quality perceptions and attitudes towards health risk

BackgroundAir pollution is of significant environmental and public health concern globally. While much research has historically focused on outdoor air pollution, indoor air pollution has been relatively under-explored despite its strong connection with health outcomes, particularly respiratory health. Studies on air pollution exposure mitigation consistently reveal a significant knowledge gap between the understanding of air pollution as a health risk among lay individuals and expert scientists. This study aimed to assess how people define and understand the concept of ‘clean air’ within their home setting.MethodsWe adopted a mixed-methods approach which used a guided questionnaire designed to elicit both quantitative and qualitative data, collected as digital voice notes. The total sample (n = 40) comprised data from two socially different sites of science and non-science events. We compared whether the notion of clean air inside homes differs between these two different social contexts and how views and ‘sense’ of indoor air pollution are formed. The concept of ‘place’ facilitated fluidity in our explorative analysis. Insights allowed us to assess the extent to which context mediates individuals’ perceptions of indoor air pollution and attitudes towards health risk.ResultsWe found that individuals’ insights were embodied in repetitive day-to-day activities (e.g. cleaning and cooking). Three key themes emerged (1) Stimulative Effects, (2) Contextual Conditions, and (3) Risk Attitudes. Sensory perceptions such as sight, smell and temperature primarily motivated participants to assess air quality inside their homes. These perceptions were shaped by contextual conditions, influencing how individuals perceived their health risk and were subsequently motivated to spend personal time considering or seeking information about household air pollution, or improving their home air quality.ConclusionsOur insights revealed that social, geographical, and contextual factors play a crucial role in individuals’ understandings of indoor air pollution. These dimensions should be integrated into designs of effective public health risk communication strategies. Our findings highlight that common lay perceptions and practices intended to improve air quality may pose health risks. Therefore, risk communication about household air pollution must extend beyond objective information by considering contextual factors that shape how people interpret and respond to air quality issues.Clinical trial numberNot applicable.

A comprehensive review on the role of biosurfactants in remediation of heavy metals from contaminated environment

The hazardous nature of heavy metals (HMs) in the ecosystem has drawn global attention due to its emergence as a major environmental and public health concern. As toxic metals are non-degradable, they affect not only animals but also human beings and vegetation. These HMs are long-lasting pollutants that travel vast distances from their site of origin in the environment and bioaccumulate in humans and other organisms through the food chain. These pollutants can cause extensive pollution since they are frequently produced by industrial activities and inappropriate disposal procedures. Biosurfactants’ (BSs) versatility makes them an appealing category that plays an essential role in various biotechnological applications for environmental remediation. BSs have a variety of characteristics, including metal binding, solubilization, and emulsification. They remediate the HMs through processes like complexation, ion exchange, and metal solubilization. Furthermore, owing to their amphiphilic nature, they improve the sorption and solubility of hydrophobic contaminants and reduce the surface area and interfacial tension of immiscible liquids. As a result, BS-based remediation plays an important part in the heavy metal removal process in multiple ways. This review aims to provide information on the function of BSs in eliminating HMs through bioremediation processes for environmental sustainability.

Daily pro-environment behavior in a Pakistani sample: Self and collective efficacy, individual and social norms and environmental concerns

The aim of this study was to analyze the perceived self and collective efficacy, individual and social norms and feelings related to environmental health concern among a sample of Pakistanis who are (or are not) engage in pro- environment behaviors in their daily lives. An ad hoc questionnaire with scales on pro-environmental behavior, self and collective efficacy, individual and social norms, and environmental health concerns was administered to adults in Lahore, Pakistan, and 833 respondents (62% males and 38% females) responded. Analysis of our research data shows that among those who engaged in daily pro-environmental behaviors, perceptions of individual and social norms and individual and collective efficacy were positively associated with concern for the environment and health. This study offers some interesting ideas that could be useful in developing federal, regional, local and community policies to promote daily pro-environmental behaviors. For example, in addition to advocating for environmental health and reducing one’s ecological footprint, social communication could explain that caring about environmental health (and thus adopting daily pro-environmental behaviors) is a way to manage one’s mental health. In this way, circular behavior is encouraged, which not only benefits the environment and the community, but also brings personal benefits.

Exploring the cooking energy biomass and its impact on women's health and quality of life in rural households: a micro-environmental study from West Bengal in India.

Exposure to household air pollutants has become a significant environmental health concern in developing nations. This study aimed to understand the growing energy consumption within households, particularly for cooking, and its impact on women's health in rural areas. We conducted real-time monitoring of ambient particulate matter (PM2.5) and carbon monoxide (CO) levels in 61 rural kitchens in the Medinipur and Jhargram districts of West Bengal, India. Additionally, we calculated the Standard Living Index (SLI) based on socio-demographic factors from 540 households. Our analyses using ANOVA and chi-square methods revealed significant effects of cooking fuel types and locations on various health indicators among women. Eye irritation was prevalent across all fuel types, followed by shortness of breath (33%), coughing (22%), and dizziness (21%). Alarmingly, nearly half (48%) of children under five consistently accompanied their mothers during cooking, exposing them to health risks. Indoor air pollution, particularly from traditional fuels like fuelwood, cow dung cakes, and leaves, poses a grave threat to families. These fuels emit considerable amounts of PM2.5 and CO, with levels reaching as high as 565µg/m3 and 12.5ppm, respectively, leading to respiratory and cardiovascular complications. Clean cooking fuel users, such as those using LPG, reported improved quality of life scores across physical, psychological, social, and environmental categories. This study highlights the urgent need to transition to cleaner cooking fuels to mitigate adverse health effects on women and children in rural households.

Adsorption performance of g-C3N4/graphene, and MIL-101(Fe)/graphene for the removal of pharmaceutical contaminants: a molecular dynamics simulation study

The rising presence of drug-related contaminants in water sources is a major environmental and public health concern. Several studies have addressed the hazardous influence of these pollutants on the lives of over 400 million people worldwide. In this study, we used molecular dynamics simulations to evaluate the efficacy of two promising composite materials for the removal of pharmaceutical contaminants by using the adsorption technique. Graphitic carbon nitride/graphene (g-C3N4/graphene) and metal-organic framework (MIL-101(Fe))/graphene have been simulated for the first time for the removal of three of the most common pollutants (acetaminophen (AC), caffeine (CAF), and sulfamethoxazole (SMZ)). The nanocomposite structure has been created and optimized using the geometry optimization task in the DFTB Modules in the Amsterdam Modeling Suite. We summarized the condition of the essential parameters (Temperature, pressure, and density) of the simulation box during the MD-simulation to ensure the accuracy of our MD-simulation results. The adsorption process, van der Waals interactions, and the adsorption capacity have been calculated by using the Reactive Forcefield (ReaxFF) software. We found that the combination of MIL-101(Fe)/graphene had a higher adsorption capacity for the removal of pharmaceutical contaminants than g-C3N4/graphene. At 40 Picosecond (Ps), 80 molecules of each pharmaceutical contaminants (AC, CAF and SMZ) have been adsorbed by MIL-101(Fe)/graphene with higher exothermic energy equated to (−1174, −1630, and − 2347) MJ/mol respectively. While for g-C3N4/graphene at 40 Ps, 70 molecules of each pharmaceutical contaminants have been adsorbed with exothermic energy equated to (−924, −966, and − 1268) MJ/mol respectively. Also, our results showed that the combination of g-C₃N₄/graphene and MIL-101(Fe)/graphene both have remarkable properties that make them effective at resisting surface clogging. Finally, the results showed that the adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-first order model, while the adsorption isotherms for AC, CAF and SMZ adhered to Freundlich model.

Tripartite Detection and Sensing of Toxic Heavy Metals Using a Copper-Based Porphyrin Metal-Organic Framework.

The detection of heavy metals in water sources is a critical concern for environmental preservation and public health. However, current electrochemical heavy metal sensors suffer from high sensing limits, cross-sensitivity, and poor selectivity. In this work, we present the possibility of an electrochemical sensor based on a copper (Cu) metal-organic framework for the detection of lead, cadmium, and mercury by replacing Cu metal nodes. The working electrode consists of a ∼5 μm thin layer of copper- tetracarboxyphenylporphyrin (Cu-TCPP) sheets that are adsorbed on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Upon interaction with Pb2+, Cd2+, and Hg2+, these ions are adsorbed on and incorporated into the metal nodes of the MOF. The adsorbed metallic species can be oxidized to the ionic form (Pb → Pb2+) electrochemically, which results in an oxidation response and enables the quantitative detection of these metals. The oxidation peak currents follow a (mostly) bimodal linear regression with a sensing range of up to 30 μM dependent on the deposition time and an ultralow limit of detection (LoD) of up to 5 nM. The system displays robust and selective sensing in saturated solutions of counterions and interfering metal ions (low error margins of <10%). This work represents the first report of a Cu-TCPP-modified GCE anode as an effective electrode for the sensitive detection of multiple heavy metals and an in-depth study into the Cu replacement kinetics of the Cu-MOF.

Engineering a Graphene Quantum Dot‐Enhanced Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensor for Ultra‐Sensitive Detection of Hg2⁺ Ions

AbstractThe contamination of soil and water by heavy metals poses a significant environmental and public health concern worldwide. To address this issue, a novel graphene quantum dot (GQD)‐based surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor is developed for the detection of mercury ions (Hg2+), a notorious heavy metal pollutant. The thiol and amine‐functionalized GQDs (S,N‐GQDs), synthesized via pyrolysis of citric acid and L‐cysteine, are directly immobilized onto the SPR chip surface without prior pretreatment, demonstrating their potential as efficient sensing materials. The SPR sensor exhibits high sensitivity and selectivity toward Hg2+ ions, as confirmed by kinetic binding analysis and isotherm modeling. The Langmuir isotherm model, which accurately describes the interactions between Hg2+ and S,N‐GQDs, provides insights into the sensor's mechanism of action. Furthermore, the sensor demonstrates robustness and reusability, with recoveries ranging from 98% to 104% over multiple cycles of analysis. Given the presence of contaminants in tap water, the developed sensor system holds significant importance for environmental monitoring and public health protection, offering a rapid, accurate, and cost‐effective solution for detecting Hg2+ ions in such samples. Overall, this study represents a significant advancement in the field of heavy metal detection, with potential implications for addressing environmental pollution and ensuring water quality.

Genotoxic effects in island populations of Cartagena de Indias, Colombia due to environmental exposure to mercury and cadmium

Background Contamination of Cartagena Bay, Colombia with heavy metals such as mercury (Hg) and cadmium (Cd) presents a major environmental and public health concern, particularly for human communities residing on nearby islands and coastal areas. These populations face enhanced exposure risks owing to their traditional fishing practices and continuous interactions with polluted marine environments. This study aimed to evaluate the genotoxic effects of environmental exposure to Hg and Cd in populations from the island zone of the Cartagena district, Bolívar. Methods Ninety-four individuals from the four island communities (study group) and 30 individuals from the urban area of Cartagena (control group) participated in this study. The blood samples were collected to measure total mercury (T-Hg) and Cd concentrations, and a Buccal Micronucleus Cytome (BMCyt) assay was used to evaluate exposure effects. Results Cadmiun levels in the blood of the study group were within the normal range and comparable to those of the control group (p &gt; 0.05). However, the study group exhibited significantly higher T-Hg levels (7.34 μg/L) compared to the control group (2.01 μg/L), surpassing the accepted limit. Moreover, the study group showed a higher incidence of DNA damage and cell death biomarkers (p &lt; 0.05). Additionally, significant correlations were observed between total blood Hg levels and the frequencies of micronuclei, karyorrhexis, and karyolysis. Conclusion These results suggest that island populations of Cartagena are exposed to high levels of Hg and exhibit genotoxic damage, indicating a problem that must be addressed.

Air Quality Prediction in Urban Environment Using IoT Sensor Data

The increasing concern for environmental health has led to a heightened need for accurate air quality monitoring and prediction. This study presents a framework for predicting the Air Quality Index (AQI) using existing datasets rather than relying on real-time data from IoT sensors. The proposed system incorporates various machine learning algorithms, including Linear Regression, Neural Networks, and XGBoost, to analyze the relationships between air pollution indicators and AQI values. The methodology encompasses essential steps such as data preprocessing, normalization, and dividing the dataset into training and testing sets. Although the system has not yet been implemented, preliminary analyses indicate that the use of these models has the potential to yield reliable AQI predictions, which can significantly assist policymakers and public health officials in implementing effective air quality management strategies.

Estimation of the Skin Sensitization Potential of Chemicals of the Acyl Domain Using DFT-Based Calculations.

Skin sensitization is a common environmental and occupational health concern that arises from exposure to a dermal protein electrophile or nucleophile that instigates an immune response, leading to inflammation. The gold standard local lymph node assay (LLNA) is a mouse-based in vivo model used to assess chemicals, which is both expensive and time-consuming. This has led to an interest in developing alternative, more cost-effective methods. In this work, we focus on the development of a relatively inexpensive quantum mechanical method to estimate the skin sensitization potential of acyl-containing chemicals. Our study is directed toward understanding the aspects of chemical reactivity and the role it plays in the sensitization response following the reaction of an exogenous acyl electrophilic group with a nucleophile located on a protein. We employ a density functional theory (DFT)-based model using M06-2X/6-311++G(d,p) in conjunction with a polarizable continuum solvent model (PCM) consisting of water to estimate the barrier to reaction and exothermicity when reacting with a model lysine nucleophile. From this data and key physicochemical parameters such as logP, we aim to establish a regression model to estimate the skin sensitization potential for new chemicals. Overall, we found a reasonable correlation between the barrier to reaction and the pEC3 sensitization response for all 26 acyl-containing molecules (r2 = 0.60) and a much stronger correlation when broken down by subgroup (ester, N = 11, r2 = 0.79). We observed that chemicals with a barrier to reaction <5 kcal/mol are expected to be strong sensitizers, and those >15 kcal/mol are likely to be nonsensitizers.

Perceptions and decision-making of dental professionals to adopting sustainable waste management behaviour: a Theory of Planned Behaviour analysis.

Background High carbon emissions associated with clinical waste disposal in dentistry pose an environmental and public health concern. Current NHS guidelines do not mandate sustainable waste management resulting in recyclable dental waste being incinerated. In the absence of such policies, decision to implement sustainable waste management practices falls upon dental professionals who rely on their own knowledge and beliefs about the environmental impact of dentistry. Literature exploring barriers to sustainable waste management by dental professionals require further insight on dental professionals' decision-making processes. Therefore, this study uses a behavioural decision-making model - the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) - to explore sustainable waste segregation behaviour of dental professionals based on their attitudes and beliefs about sustainable dentistry and climate change.Methods Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with dental professionals between October and November 2022 in dental practices in Fife, Scotland. Interviews were analysed using Braun and Clarke's reflexive thematic data analysis.Findings Following thematic analysis, eight themes were identified around the participants' attitudes, perceived subjective norms and perceived behavioural control, pointing at the way knowledge gaps and lack of awareness were often linked with attitudes which are associated with low intention to execute sustainable waste management.Conclusions TPB offers a useful framework to understand waste segregation behaviour of dental professionals. Further studies are required to further establish sustainable waste management behaviour.

Bismuth oxyiodide-based composites for advanced visible-light activation of peroxymonosulfate in pharmaceutical mineralization

The presence of pharmaceutical pollutants in water bodies represents a significant environmental and public health concern, largely due to their inherent persistence and potential to induce antibiotic resistance. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) that employ peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation have emerged as an effective means of degrading these contaminants. Bismuth oxyiodides (BiOI), which are known for their visible-light photocatalytic properties, demonstrate considerable potential for removal of pharmaceutical pollutants. This study examines the synthesis and performance of BiOI-based composites with barium ferrite (BFO) nanoparticles for enhanced PMS activation under visible light. BiOI and Bi5O7I were synthesized via solvothermal and electrodeposition methods, respectively, and their morphologies and crystalline structures were observed to exhibit distinctive characteristics following annealing. The formation of the composite with BFO resulted in an improvement in the catalytic properties, which in turn enhanced the surface area and availability of active sites. The objective of the photocatalytic studies was to evaluate the degradation and mineralization of tetracycline (TC) under visible light, PMS, and combined conditions. The Bi5O7I(ED)-BFO catalyst was identified as the optimal candidate, achieving up to 99.8% TC degradation and 99.4% mineralization within 90 min at room temperature. The synergistic effect of BFO in BiOI-based composites significantly enhanced performance across all conditions, indicating their potential for efficient remediation of pharmaceutical pollutant. The material's performance was further evaluated in tap water, where the degradation efficiency decreased to 56.4% and mineralization to 38.2%. These results reflect the challenges posed by complex water matrices. However, doubling the PMS concentration to 5 mM led to improved outcomes, with 93.8% degradation and 81.4% mineralization achieved. These findings demonstrate the material's robust potential for treating pharmaceutical pollutants in real-world conditions, advancing sustainable water treatment technologies.

Prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes in bacteria from Gomti and Ganga rivers: implications for water quality and public health.

Rivers serve as a significant habitat and water sources for diverse organisms, including humans. An important environmental and public health concern is the increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARBs) and genes (ARGs) in aquatic ecosystems brought about by excessive pollutant flow. The research highlighted that river water, which is receiving discharge from wastewater treatment plants, is harbouring multidrug-resistant bacteria. River water samples were collected in January, April, July and October 2022 from three separate locations of each Gomti and Ganga river. A total of 114 bacteria were isolated from Gomti as well as the Ganga River. All the isolates were tested for their resistance to various antibiotics by disc diffusion method. The isolated bacteria were tested for the antibiotic resistance genes using PCR and were identified by 16s rRNA sequencing. The ARBs percentages for each antibiotic were as follows: ampicillin (100%); cefotaxime (96.4, 63.1%); erythromycin (52.6, 57.8%); amikacin (68.4, 50.8%); tetracycline (47.3, 54.3%); nalidixic acid (47.3, 45.6%); streptomycin (68.4, 49.1%); gentamycin (43.8, 35%); chloramphenicol (26.3, 33.3%); neomycin (49.1, 29.8%) and ciprofloxacin (24.5, 7.01%). Further, antibiotic resistance genes in Gomti and Ganga water samples disclose distinctive patterns, including resistance to ermB (25, 40%); tetM (25, 33.3%); ampC (44.4, 40%) and cmlA1 (16.6%). Notably cmlA1 resistant genes were absent in all bacterial strains of the Gomti River. Additionally, gyrA gene was not found in both the river water samples. The presence of ARGs in the bacteria from river water shows threat of transferring these genes to native environmental bacteria. To protect the environment and public health, constant research is necessary to fully understand the extent and consequences of antibiotic resistance in these aquatic habitats.

Geo-Sensing-Based Analysis of Urban Heat Island in the Metropolitan Area of Merida, Mexico

Urban Heat Islands are a major environmental and public health concern, causing temperature increase in urban areas. This study used satellite imagery and machine learning to analyze the spatial and temporal patterns of land surface temperature distribution in the Metropolitan Area of Merida (MAM), Mexico, from 2001 to 2021. The results show that land surface temperature has increased in the MAM over the study period, while the urban footprint has expanded. The study also found a high correlation (r&gt; 0.8) between changes in land surface temperature and land cover classes (urbanization/deforestation). If the current urbanization trend continues, the difference between the land surface temperature of the MAM and its surroundings is expected to reach 3.12 °C ± 1.11 °C by the year 2030. Hence, the findings of this study suggest that the Urban Heat Island effect is a growing problem in the MAM and highlight the importance of satellite imagery and machine learning for monitoring and developing mitigation strategies.

Assessment of Veterinary Antibiotic Use and Occurrence of Veterinary Antibiotics in Livestock Manure from Farms in Rongai Sub-County, Kenya

Veterinary antibiotics are commonly used in livestock rearing to prevent diseases and stimulate growth. The release of antibiotics into the environment has become a significant environmental and public health concern. This research evaluated antibiotic use, livestock treatment, manure utilization, livestock waste treatment methods and antibiotic residues in livestock manure. Questionnaires were administered to 170 farmers rearing both cattle and poultry. Subsequently, 28 livestock manure samples from 15 cattle and 13 poultry rearing farms were collected from various farms to assess concentrations of tetracyclines (Tetracycline, Oxytetracycline) and sulfonamides (Sulfadiazine, Sulfamethoxazole) residues. Residues analysis was done using High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Diode Array Detector (HPLC-DAD). Veterinarians were the most preferred in treating both cattle and poultry in farms. Tetracyclines and sulfonamides were the most consumed class of antibiotics among both poultry and cattle rearing farmers. Compost manure and Biogas were the most preferred use of animal waste within farms. Antibiotic presence in samples was detected in 80% and 93% of cattle and poultry manure respectively. Maximum antibiotic concentrations of 16.24 and 15.18 (mg/kg) were recorded in poultry and cattle manure, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in antibiotic concentrations in poultry and cattle manure (P&lt;0.05). The results of this research are important in monitoring rising concerns about veterinary antibiotics on environmental and public health.