Health Protection Research Articles

Exploratory case–control study on childhood cancer near the Mar Menor lagoon Region of Murcia (Spain) 2000 to 2018

The Mar Menor, Europe’s largest saltwater lagoon in the Mediterranean basin (Murcia, southeastern Spain), is an ecosystem facing severe pollution, anoxia events, and marine biodiversity loss. This exploratory study examines the association between residential proximity to the Mar Menor and childhood cancer incidence in Murcia from 2000 to 2018. In our case–control study of 594 cancer cases and 3564 controls, matched by birth year and sex, participants were categorized by proximity to the lagoon (G1 ≥ 20 km, G2 = 10–20 km, G3 = 2–10 km, G4 = ≤ 2 km). Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were adjusted for sociodemographic and environmental covariates. Analysis of distance as a continuous variable indicated a decrease both in all types of cancer and lymphoid acute leukemia risk with greater distance (OR = 0.99; 95% CI 0.98–0.99), while as a categorical variable, it revealed a non-linear pattern. Specifically, the risk did not increase for those living within 2 km of the lagoon (OR = 0.87; 95% CI 0.52–1.37), whereas increased risks were observed in the 2–20 km range within Campo de Cartagena (G2; OR = 1.32; 95% CI 1.01–1.73 and G3; OR = 1.43; 95% CI 1.00–2.02). This suggests modulating factors near the lagoon may counterbalance risks from broader environmental contamination. These findings highlight the complexity of environmental health dynamics and the importance of detailed research to guide public health strategies and urban planning for environmental and child health protection.

Организационно-правовые проблемы осуществления медико-социального обеспечения лиц, находящихся в исправительных учреждениях

Punishment should not be aimed at humiliating human dignity, but should be aimed at preventing the commission of new offenses and correcting the convicted person. In this context, the question of the need to provide the convicted person with medical care and the realization of his constitutional right to health protection is filled with special meaning. The problems of organizing the examination and re-examination of convicts who are disabled and who are in correctional institutions, providing persons serving sentences with medicines have been identified. These problems are a manifestation of the question of the qualitative implementation by the state of the functions of social protection of persons with disabilities, the provision of medical care to those in need. On the example of the organization of these procedures, it is possible to identify a wide range of organizational shortcomings in the system of execution of punishment, as well as inconsistency of the norms of Russian legislation. It was concluded that it is necessary to reform the organization of medical support for convicts, to increase the transparency of the system for providing the convict with medical care.

Advancing Pathogen Identification: The Role of Digital PCR in Enhancing Diagnostic Power in Different Settings.

Digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) has emerged as a groundbreaking technology in molecular biology and diagnostics, offering exceptional precision and sensitivity in nucleic acid detection and quantification. This review highlights the core principles and transformative potential of dPCR, particularly in infectious disease diagnostics and environmental surveillance. Emphasizing its evolution from traditional PCR, dPCR provides accurate absolute quantification of target nucleic acids through advanced partitioning techniques. The review addresses the significant impact of dPCR in sepsis diagnosis and management, showcasing its superior sensitivity and specificity in early pathogen detection and identification of drug-resistant genes. Despite its advantages, challenges such as optimization of experimental conditions, standardization of data analysis workflows, and high costs are discussed. Furthermore, we compare various commercially available dPCR platforms, detailing their features and applications in clinical and research settings. Additionally, the review explores dPCR's role in water microbiology, particularly in wastewater surveillance and monitoring of waterborne pathogens, underscoring its importance in public health protection. In conclusion, future prospects of dPCR, including methodological optimization, integration with innovative technologies, and expansion into new sectors like metagenomics, are explored.

Development and validation of the climate change health protection behaviors scale for adolescents: a methodological study

ABSTRACT This study aimed to develop and validate the Climate Change Health Protection Behaviors Scale for adolescents. A total of 1036 adolescents were recruited from middle and high schools. The development of the assessment scale was carried out in three steps: item generation, content validity evaluation, and psychometric evaluation. Psychometric testing was conducted to determine the relationship between the resulting factors and the Healthy Lifestyle Belief Scale and Climate Change Awareness Scale. A 28-item scale was developed, consisting of four factors that account for 65.0% of the variance. The Cronbach’s alpha value was 0.874. Additionally, a positive correlation was observed between the Climate Change Health Protection Behaviors Scale and both the Climate Change Awareness Scale and the Healthy Lifestyle Belief Scale for adolescents. These results suggest that the Climate Change Health Protection Behaviors Scale is a reliable and valid tool for evaluating health protection behaviors related to climate change in adolescents.

Inductive thematic analysis of healthcare qualitative interviews using open-source large language models: How does it compare to traditional methods?

BackgroundLarge language models (LLMs) are generative artificial intelligence that have ignited much interest and discussion about their utility in clinical and research settings. Despite this interest there is sparse analysis of their use in qualitative thematic analysis comparing their current ability to that of human coding and analysis. In addition, there has been no published analysis of their use in real-world, protected health information. ObjectiveHere we fill that gap in the literature by comparing an LLM to standard human thematic analysis in real-world, semi-structured interviews of both patients and clinicians within a psychiatric setting. MethodsUsing a 70 billion parameter open-source LLM running on local hardware and advanced prompt engineering techniques, we produced themes that summarized a full corpus of interviews in minutes. Subsequently we used three different evaluation methods for quantifying similarity between themes produced by the LLM and those produced by humans. ResultsThese revealed similarities ranging from moderate to substantial (Jaccard similarity coefficients 0.44–0.69), which are promising preliminary results. ConclusionOur study demonstrates that open-source LLMs can effectively generate robust themes from qualitative data, achieving substantial similarity to human-generated themes. The validation of LLMs in thematic analysis, coupled with evaluation methodologies, highlights their potential to enhance and democratize qualitative research across diverse fields.

Performance prediction and optimization of lateral exhaust hood based on back propagation neural network and genetic algorithm

The lateral exhaust hood (LEH) is commonly used to capture contaminated airflow in industrial plants. Its performance is influenced by numerous factors and exhibits a strong nonlinear relationship, optimizing this performance demands significant computational time and cost. This study proposes an LEH optimization design method that combines a backpropagation neural network (BPNN) with a genetic algorithm (GA), verified through experiments and numerical simulations. A BPNN prediction model is established based on 520 CFD simulation results. This study discusses seven factors influencing LEH performance, including the buoyant jet's velocity and temperature, the LEH's geometry and position, and the exhaust velocity. The results indicate that within the parameter range of the prediction model, there is a critical aspect ratio value that significantly affects LEH capture efficiency. The horizontal distance between the LEH and the pollution source significantly affects capture efficiency, especially when the LEH's installation height is low (H/D < 0.5). In addition, when combined with GA for fast searching, the expected combination of LEH design parameters can be obtained. This study aims to enhance the design efficiency of industrial exhaust hoods and improve worker health protection.

Ethnic Density and Mental Health: Does it Matter Whether the Ethnic Density is Co-ethnic or Multi-ethnic and How Important is Change in Ethnic Density?

The ethnic density thesis suggests a protective health benefit for ethnic minorities living in places with higher concentration of co-ethnic residents. This paper aims to make a step change in the examination of this thesis by proposing ethnic diversity rather than co-ethnic density will be more protective for mental health. The paper proposes ethnic diversity could be a community asset that benefits the health of all people in a neighbourhood regardless of their own ethnic group. Individual data is taken from the UK Household Longitudinal Study, 2009-2019 linked to aggregate data from the 2001 and 2011 Censuses to test the association between co-ethnic density, ethnic diversity and mental health using the General Health Questionnaire 12-item scale. The paper takes a novel approach by measuring pre-existing (in 2001) and change in (2001-2011) co-ethnic density and ethnic diversity. Moderating effects of individual ethnic group, neighbourhood deprivation and perceived social cohesion are tested. Results show lower pre-existing co-ethnic density is related to lower mental health amongst the White British ethnic group but not in most ethnic minority groups. Greater pre-existing ethnic diversity in more deprived neighbourhoods is associated with better mental health regardless of individual ethnic group. A point of contention in the findings is no association between change in ethnic diversity and mental health.

Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric evaluation of the Turkish version of the Smombie Scale for Adolescents.

Smombie has become an important problem especially in terms of adolescent health. The aim of this study was to translate the Smombie Scale for Adolescents (SSA) into Turkish and to examine its psychometric properties. This study has a methodological design. The study was conducted between March and April 2024. The sample of the study consisted of 430 adolescents. The data were collected by using Personal Information Form and SSA. Content Validity Index, Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), test-retest reliability, Cronbach's α coefficient, item-total score correlation, 27% upper-lower group item analysis and Hotelling T2 test were used in data analysis. The four-factor structure of the scale showed a good fit in CFA (chi-square minimum discrepancy [CMIN] = 187.463, degrees of freedo (DF) = 83, CMIN/DF = 2.259, root mean square error of approximation = 0.054, root mean square residual = 0.033, goodness of fit index = 0.947, adjusted goodness of fit index = 0.923, normed fit index = 0.930, tucker-lewis index = 0.949 and comparative fit index = 0.959). Cronbach's α coefficient of the scale was found to be 0.86. The item-total score correlation of the scale was found between 0.212 and 0.721. The test-retest intraclass correlation coefficient of the scale was found to be 0.876. This study shows that the scale is a reliable tool for assessing adolescents' smombie tendencies. It is thought that the scale will contribute to the protection and development of adolescent health.

Green Marketing: Opportunity for Innovation and Sustainable Development

In the time of escalating environmental concerns and growing consumer consciousness, the concept of green marketing has emerged as a vital strategy for businesses to earn profitability with sustainability. the consumers now a days are more concerned about the health and environmental protection issues. This research paper aims to focus on sustainable development and green marketing with its impact on society and its opportunity for innovation. The paper explains how green marketing strategies, product design, packaging, promotion, and distribution, not only reduces environmental impact but also promotes innovation within organizations. Moreover, it highlights the role of consumer behavior and market dynamics in shaping the adoption of green products and services. Furthermore, the paper examines the challenges and opportunities associated with implementing green marketing initiatives, this research paper underscores the transformative potential of green marketing as a driver of innovation and sustainable development

High performance enrichment and analysis of fluoroquinolones residues in environmental water using cobalt ion mediated paper-based molecularly imprinted polymer chips

BackgroundFluoroquinolones (FQs) are widely used for their excellent antimicrobial properties, yet their release into aquatic environments pose risks to ecosystems and public health. The accurate monitoring and analysis of FQs present challenges due to their low concentrations and the complex matrices found in actual environmental samples. To address the need for auto-pretreatment and on-line instrumental analysis, developing new microextraction materials and protocols is crucial. Such advancements will provide better analytical assurance for the effective extraction and determination of FQs at trace levels, which is of great significance to environmental protection and human health. ResultsIn this work, we presented a Co2+ mediated paper-based molecularly imprinted polymer chip (CMC@Co-MIP), combined with UPLC analysis, to develop an effective analytical method for identifying and quantifying trace amounts of ciprofloxacin (CIP) and enrofloxacin (ENR) in water samples. Notably, the addition of Co2+ in CMC@Co-MIP helped to capture the template molecule CIP through coordination before imprinting, which significantly improved the ordering of the imprinted cavities. CMC@Co-MIP exhibited a maximum adsorption capacity up to 500.20 mg g−1 with an imprinting factor of 4.12, surpassing previous reports by a significant margin. Furthermore, the enrichment mechanism was extensively analyzed by various characterization techniques. The developed method showed excellent repeatability and reproducibility (RSD < 13.0 %) with detection limits ranging from 0.15 to 0.21 μg L−1 and recoveries ranging from 64.9 % to 102.3 % in real spiked water samples. SignificanceWe developed a novel microextraction paper-based chip based on Co2+ mediation, which effectively improved the selectivity and convenience of extracting FQs. This breakthrough allowed the chip to have a high enrichment efficiency as well as provide a robust on-line instrumental program. It also confirms that the imprinting scheme based on metal ion coordination is a high-performance strategy.

Accessibility and Challenges of Legal Aid for Victims of Pneumoconiosis

Ensuring accessible legal aid for victims of pneumoconiosis is essential, yet challenging. This paper examines the accessibility and challenges of legal aid for persons affected by pneumoconiosis, a debilitating occupational disease. Despite legal frameworks aimed at protecting workers' rights, numerous obstacles hinder the efficient provision of legal aid. Ambiguous eligibility criteria, complex procedures, insufficient resources and high legal fees pose significant challenges. However, overcoming these challenges is essential to protecting the rights of pneumoconiosis victims and advancing occupational health protection.

Assessing perceptions of flea and tick infestation risk in Southeast Queensland, Australia

Social cognitive models are useful for improving our understanding of the relationship between people's health beliefs and disease risks and have been widely employed in human medicine. In veterinary science, there is little research about owners' perceptions of pet health and parasitic infections/infestations, despite the risk of transmission of zoonotic pathogens by ectoparasites. This study investigated the effects of demographic factors on pet owner's perception of ectoparasite infestation risk and behaviours related to animal health in southeast Queensland, Australia employing the Health Belief Model (HBM). A total of 241 dog owners were surveyed in 2018. The electronic survey was generated through SurveyMonkey and distributed utilising UQ SVS and Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) email networks, informative posters and brochures placed in selected veterinary clinics, and in-person visits to dog parks. The relationship between dog owners' perception of flea and tick infestation risk was assessed using an adaptation of the Health Belief Model, social cognitive framework for health protection. Most survey respondents were between 26 and 45 years of age (40%), identified themselves as females (83%) and had a bachelor's degree (43%). Our results indicate that female owners had greater level of health concern related to ectoparasites compared to males. Similarly, owners aged 18 to 25, with a grade 10 to 12 level of attained education and living predominately in a rural setting showed greater level of health concern related to ectoparasite infestations. The results also indicated that cat owners had on average, higher levels of health concern than dog owners. Our study indicates that the perceptions of pet owners towards perception of flea and tick infestation risk varies demographically, and owner education is an important predictor of prevention behaviours towards tick and flea infestation of pets.

Unresolved issues of comorbid pathology in minors with urogenital inflammation

A holistic approach to the problem of copious and prolonged menstruation during puberty allows adequately predicting the situation and clearly determining the direction of therapeutic and diagnostic measures. This model of protection of reproductive health of minors is based on interdisciplinary interaction. Problematic interdisciplinary issues of modern medicine include the norm and pathology of microbiocenosis of the vulva and vagina and recurrence of abnormal uterine bleeding in minors. Based on the study of modern literature data, the relationship between disorders of genital microbiocenosis and reproductive disorders in minors is analyzed. The results of scientific research, including 19 Russian and 12 foreign studies, which are presented in large scientific databases, such as eLibrary, CyberLeninka, Science Direct, Scopus, and Google Scholar, have been analyzed. It has been shown that vaginitis remains the most common disease in minors. The importance of doctor’s timely actions in the field of predicting the development of vaginitis and its timely prevention in childhood is emphasized. Dysbiotic disorders of the vaginal microbiota are one of the leading triggers of menstrual cycle formation disorders, including recurrence of abnormal uterine bleeding. The latter requires monitoring and preventive measures. The method of hemostasis must be selected individually, depending on the severity of bleeding and the characteristics of the clinical course. Combined infectious pathology is characterized by a persistent course and the interaction of mechanisms of persistence of the infectious process and justifies the need to take into account all aspects of clinical manifestations and apply a personalized approach to the complex therapy of these conditions at the interdisciplinary level.

Green modified electrode for sensitive simultaneous heavy metal ions electrodetection

The detection of heavy metals (HM) is of particular importance in terms of human health and environmental protection. Electrochemical sensors are usually limited by the interference of various cations that coexist in real samples. These shortcomings are usually solved by incorporating various particles into the electrode material, which represents another source of pollution, thus being unsustainable. In this study, it was demonstrated that the new investigated natural clay (nc), used without processing, and immobilized with chitosan (Chi) matrix on the surface of a GCE in order to obtain nc-Chi/GCE modified electrode can detect, separately and simultaneously, four heavy metals (i.e. Zn2+, Cd2+, Pb2+ and Cu2+). The electrochemical behavior of the new eco-friendly modified electrode and its capacity to detect heavy metals has been investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV). The obtained electroanalytical performances (i.e., a detection limit of 43.1 nM for Zn2+, 19.1 nM for Cd2+, 4.3 nM for Pb2+ and 57.3 nM for Cu2+) corroborated with the reproducibility and stability of the modified electrode successfully recommends it as a suited device for heavy metals ions detection. The nc-Chi/GCE modified electrode was validated by measurements performed in real samples of tap water.

Risk management approach using ash-based amendment blends for remediation of lead-contaminated urban soils and protection of public health

Anthropogenic activities have left a legacy of contaminated vacant land, which disproportionately affects lower income communities and can have detrimental impacts on human health, particularly children. A management solution is needed to address this widespread lead contamination in urban soils of vacant lots. In this study, high-Fe biosolids incinerator ash (BIA) was evaluated for its ability to sequester soil Pb. Five blends were created using BIA and different amount of other products (dredge, biosolids compost, and yard waste compost) to determine the most effective treatment to reduce Pb bioaccessibility in the soil. The sorption capacity of the BIA for Pb was evaluated by mixing the BIA with Pb(NO3)2 at 1000 to 100,000 ​mg ​Pb/kg BIA. The contaminated soil from Cleveland, OH was treated with five BIA-based blends at a 1:1 (w/w) ratio, and Pb bioaccessibility was evaluated using USEPA Method 1340 ​at pH 2.5 and the Physiologically Based Extraction Test (PBET) at pH 2.5. BIA was a strong sorbent for Pb, sorbing ∼100% of the Pb from solution at 10,000 ​mg/L with only 41% bioaccessibility based on Method 1340 ​at pH 2.5. The blend containing 4.5%, 10%, or 19% BIA reduced the Pb bioaccessibility by 48% from the control based on both bioaccessibility methods. The bioaccessible Pb determined by PBET was less than that by USEPA Method 1340 ​at pH 2.5. However, similar reductions in bioaccessible Pb between blend-treated soils and the unamended soil were observed for all bioaccessibility methods. Plant growth assays showed the blends to have little to no significant impact on clover growth, mortality, or flower production, with the blend containing 10% BIA showing greater biomass yield. Results showed BIA-based blends were able to reduce bioaccessible Pb in the soil. This remediation approach may improve the urban living environment and protects public health.

Internalized Phobia, Community Connectedness, Outness, and Mental Health Risk and Protection in LGBTQ Persons.

Community connectedness, outness, and internalized phobia are potential protective and risk factors for mental health in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals. However, these interrelated factors have generally been examined in isolation and for the LGBTQ community in aggregate. As such, there may be undetected effects of factors on mental health for each LGBTQ group. We examined the associations between mental health (i.e., depression and anxiety) and risk/protective factors (i.e., internalized phobia, community connectedness, outness) in each LGBTQ subgroup separately. A large national U.S. sample (N = 1,030) of individuals who identified as LGBTQ completed an anonymous internet survey during fall 2019. Participants answered questionnaires about community connectedness, outness, internalized homophobia or transphobia, anxiety, and depression. On average, most subgroups reported symptoms of depression and anxiety above clinical cutoffs. Less outness and greater internalized phobia were associated with more severe depression and anxiety, but this pattern was not consistent across LGBTQ subgroups. Greater community connectedness was generally associated with more severe anxiety and depression. LGBTQ subgroups vary in how risk and protective factors relate to mental health outcomes. Our findings highlight the importance of examining LGBTQ subgroups separately and examining risk/protective factors simultaneously to identify the unique contribution of each factor. More research is needed to understand potential LGBTQ mental health risks and protective factors, and future researchers should examine the unique roles of risk and protective factors in separate LGBTQ subgroups.

Performance and acceptability of the STREAM Disinfectant Generator for infection prevention and control practices in primary health care facilities in Uganda

BackgroundEffective infection prevention and control programs can positively influence quality of care, increase patient safety, and protect health care providers. Chlorine, a widely used and effective chemical disinfectant, is recommended for infection prevention and control in health care settings. However, lack of consistent chlorine availability limits its use. Electrolytic chlorine generators can address limited chlorine supply and stockouts by enabling onsite production of readily usable, high-quality chlorine cost-effectively. We report the feasibility (i.e., performance, acceptability, chlorine availability, and cost) of the electrolytic STREAM Disinfectant Generator (Aqua Research, New Mexico, USA) device for infection prevention and control in primary health care facilities in Uganda.MethodsWe installed STREAM devices in 10 primary health care facilities in central and western Uganda. Commercial chlorine inventory records (stock cards) were reviewed in each facility to calculate average liters of chlorine received and used per month. These values were compared with actual STREAM chlorine production volumes over the study period to determine its impact on chlorine availability. We collected acceptability data from a purposive sample of device users (n = 16), hospital administrators (n = 10), and district health officers (n = 6) who had been directly involved in the operation or supervision of the STREAM device. We descriptively analyzed the acceptability data by user group and evaluated qualitative responses manually using a thematic approach. Cost data were normalized and modeled to determine a break-even and cost-savings analysis across a five-year period (the minimum expected lifespan of the STREAM device).ResultsChlorine was consistently available without any reported stockouts during the evaluation period. STREAM chlorine production resulted in a 36.9 percent cost-savings over a five-year period compared to commercial chlorine. User acceptability of the STREAM device was high among STREAM operators, hospital administrators, and district health officers, with all respondents reporting that STREAM moderately or significantly improved infection prevention and control practices in the health facility. Overall, 88 percent of device users and 100 percent of hospital administrators wished to continue using the STREAM device instead of commercial chlorine products.ConclusionThe STREAM device has demonstrated significant potential to strengthen infection prevention and control practices in health care facilities in Uganda. Based on the preliminary results, the STREAM device should be considered a promising tool for district hospitals and large health centers facing infection prevention and control challenges in Uganda and elsewhere, provided water and electricity are available. Going forward, implementation of the STREAM device could also be considered in smaller health care facilities in Uganda and elsewhere.

Children’s Health Protection Issues in the Kyrgyz Republic

A review of the current system for the health and development of children and adolescents in the Kyrgyz Republic revealed a number of key issues. There is a lack of coordination among public, private, non-governmental, and international organizations for the advancement of current condition of children and adolescents. The staff of the health care system, education, social protection and other government agencies, whose activities, one way or another, are related to working with children, need to improve their skills, taking into account the expansion of policies in the field of health protection and development of children and adolescents. There is limited use of available factual data to improve the quality of medical care, habilitation and rehabilitation, disease prevention (overweight and underweight, tuberculosis, diseases of the reproductive system, psycho-emotional disorders, etc.) violence, and trauma. Environmental risks remain high (clean water, safe environment and living conditions). There is very low participation of the civil sector in decision-making and implementation of a program in the field of health care and development of children and adolescents.

Knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding biomedical waste management (BMWM) among healthcare workers in Tertiary care facility

Biomedical waste management is critical to India’s public health and environmental protection. With the rapid growth of the healthcare sector, biomedical waste generation has increased significantly, posing challenges in its proper handling, treatment, and disposal. This comprehensive analysis provides an overview of the current status of biomedical waste management in India, including the regulatory framework, categorization of waste, segregation practices, collection and transportation methods, treatment and disposal technologies, record-keeping requirements, training and awareness programs, monitoring and enforcement mechanisms, and emerging trends. The analysis also explores the challenges healthcare facilities, regulatory authorities, and other stakeholders face in ensuring effective biomedical waste management and proposes strategies to address these challenges. Furthermore, it discusses innovative approaches and future directions to promote sustainable biomedical waste management practices and safeguard public health and the environment.

Enhancing Trace Pb2⁺ Detection via Novel Functional Materials for Improved Electrocatalytic Redox Processes on Electrochemical Sensors: A Short Review

The efficient detection of lead ions (Pb2⁺) is significant for environmental protection and public health. Electrochemical detection has emerged as one of the most promising technologies due to its low detection limits, high sensitivity, and cost-effectiveness. However, significant challenges remain, including issues related to sensitivity, selectivity, interference, and the stability of electrode materials. This review explores recent advancements in the field, focusing on integrating novel catalytic materials and innovative sensor construction methods. Particular emphasis is placed on enhancing the electrocatalytic redox processes on sensor surfaces using advanced nanomaterials such as MXenes, ferrite-based nanomaterials, carbon nanomaterials, and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). Additionally, the role of biomaterials and enzymes in improving electrochemical sensors’ selectivity and anti-interference capabilities is discussed. Despite the impressive low detection limits achieved, real-world applications present additional challenges due to the complex composition of environmental samples. The review concludes with future perspectives on overcoming these challenges by leveraging the unique properties of catalytic materials to develop more effective and reliable electrochemical sensors for trace Pb2⁺ detection.