Protection Of Human Health Research Articles

Combining Electrosorption and Electrochemical Reduction Mechanisms for Uranium Removal Using 1,2,3,4-Butane Tetracarboxylic Acid-Modified MIL-101: An In-Depth Exploration of Uranyl-Adsorbent Interactions.

Extracting uranium from nuclear wastewater is vital for environmental and human health protection. However, despite progress in uranium extraction, there remains a demand for an optimized adsorbent with improved capability, efficiency, and selectivity. To bridge this gap, 1,2,3,4-butane tetracarboxylic acid (BTCA)-modified MIL-101 was synthesized through a simple hydrothermal reaction between amino-modified MIL-101 (MIL-101-NH2) and BTCA. Density Functional Theory calculations validated the formation of stable coordination bonds and a hydrogen bond network, bolstering the adsorption capacity. To further enhance this capacity, the influence of an electric field on adsorption performance was investigated. Studies revealed that uranyl ion removal under an electric field involves both electrosorption and electroreduction pathways. This dual mechanism not only significantly increases the adsorption capacity from 221.1 mg g-1 to 331.4 mg g-1 but also improves the adsorption efficiency. These insights not only enhance our understanding of effective uranium removal but also foster the development of sustainable, ecofriendly technologies in the nuclear energy field.

Fabrication of MoS2@Fe3O4 Magnetic Catalysts with Photo-Fenton Reaction for Enhancing Tetracycline Degradation

Tetracycline (TCs) is widely used in the treatment of human and animal infectious disease. TCs gives rise to a growing threat to the human health and environment protection due to its overuse. Therefore, it is important to remove TCs contaminants from waste effluents. In this work, MoS2@Fe3O4 catalytic material was fabricated by the simple hydrothermal method, which was applied in the photo-Fenton system to degrade TCs. The crystal structure, surface morphology, elemental composition, chemical state, electrochemical properties, and separability of MoS2@Fe3O4 catalytic materials were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), conventional and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM/HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). Furthermore, MoS2@Fe3O4 could degrade 98.6% of TCs within 60 min under the optimum reaction conditions (the catalyst dosage of 3 g/L, H2O2 concentration of 5 mmol/L, the initial TCs concentration of 50 mg/L, and the initial pH of 5), which was a significant increase compared with pure Fe3O4. MoS2 can accelerate the Fe3+/Fe2+ cycle through electron transfer from Mo4+ to Fe3+, resulting in the improvement in the degradation efficiency of TCs. The quenching and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) results showed that OH• and photogenic hole h+ was the main active species in the photo-Fenton system. What is more, MoS2@Fe3O4 catalytic materials had remarkable stability and reusability, and can be handily regained via magnetic separation technology in a real scenario.

Byproduct-based zeolite type A as absorbent material for decontamination of simulated radioactive wastewater

The secure disposal of radioactive wastewater, a waste from nuclear operations, presents a significant challenge due to the presence of hazardous radionuclides like cesium. The efficient removal of cesium, a major fission product with a long half-life and potent radiation, is crucial for environmental and human health protection. Zeolites, with their high ion exchange capacity and porous structure, offer a promising solution for cesium removal from wastewater. The potential to synthesize zeolites from abundant and cost-effective agro-industrial residues further enhances their appeal for sustainable wastewater treatment. The present study investigates the adsorption of cesium from simulated radioactive wastewater using zeolite type A synthesized from sugarcane bagasse ash, a readily available Brazilian byproduct. The synthesized zeolite was characterized by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermal analysis techniques. The results confirmed the successful synthesis of high-purity zeolite A with excellent adsorption capacity for cesium. The structural integrity and thermal stability of the zeolite were maintained even after cesium adsorption, making it suitable for immobilization processes. The findings highlight the potential of zeolite synthesized from sugarcane bagasse ash as an effective and sustainable material for the treatment and removal of cesium from radioactive wastewater, contributing to environmental remediation efforts in the nuclear industry.

Манкоцеб: медико-санітарні нормативи, контроль харчової безпеки та запобігання технічним бар’єрам у торгівлі

Introduction. Mancozeb is a widely used synthetic fungicide from the group of dithiocarbamates. Numerous mancozeb preparations are used to protect many agricultural crops and obtain a significant number of products from them for consumption in Ukraine, as well as for export to other countries of the world. In accordance with Regulation (EC) No. 1107/2009, a decision was made concerning the «approval of the active substance mancozeb is not renewed». Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the parameters of the permissible exposure of mancozeb residues to its limit of quantification (LOQ), which is 0.01 mg/kg, and food products with higher levels of this substance have become non-compliant and, starting from January 2022, cannot be placed on the EU market. Purpose. To determine the limits of controlled values of mancozeb content in agricultural products of plant origin in accordance with EU requirements, considering the parameters of permissible exposure on human health and control over the use of mancozeb for plant protection in Ukraine. Materials and Methods. Preparations with the active substance (a.s.) mancozeb (from 302 to 800 g a.s./kg) in the form of wettable powder (WP) or water-soluble granules (WG) were used during state trials in Ukraine on grapes, potatoes, and tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, sugar beets and grain bread crops with the general rates of mancozeb consumption from 2.4 to 14.4 kg per year/ha. The content dynamics of residual amounts of mancozeb and its metabolite – ethylenethiourea (ETU) were studied by the methods of vapor phase gas chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography, respectively. Evaluation of results and medical-sanitary standardization of mancozeb and ETU residues were performed in accordance with national and international documents. Results. Within the established waiting periods before harvesting of agricultural products the residual amounts of mancozeb/ETU were less than the LOQs of 0.05/0.005-0.05 mg/kg, respectively. The LOQs of mancozeb according to the official methods in force in Ukraine corresponded to the LOQs of the methods used in the EU until January 2022, but do not ensure control of mancozeb at the level of 0.01 mg/kg in accordance with the current requirements for placing products on the EU market, except for SSTU (State Standards of Ukraine) EN 12396-2:2003. The parameters of acceptable exposure to mancozeb and its metabolite ETU in Ukraine provided for a higher level of human health protection than the regulations adopted in the EU until January 2022. Conclusions. Adherence to the researched and approved application rates and waiting periods before harvesting in Ukraine ensures the absence of residual mancozeb amounts and ETU in plant origin agricultural products at the level of the LOQ and its compliance with the national parameters of permissible exposure on human health. If the EU requirements for the content of mancozeb in food products do not exceed the proposed LOQ of 0.01 mg/kg, domestic agricultural products of plant origin can be placed on the EU market. To prevent the appearance of technical barriers related to the reduction of LOQs of active substances of plant protection products (PPPs) in food raw materials and food products, residues determination methods should provide for LOQs of controlled substances not exceeding 0.01 mg/kg. Keywords: mancozeb, agricultural products, limit of quantification of residues, food safety, technical barriers.

Kinetically-derived maximal dose (KMD) confirms lack of humanrelevance for high-dose effects of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4).

The kinetically-derived maximal dose (KMD) is defined as the maximum external dose at which kinetics are unchanged relative to lower doses, e.g., doses at which kinetic processes are not saturated. Toxicity produced at doses above the KMD can be qualitatively different from toxicity produced at lower doses. Here, we test the hypothesis that high-dose-dependent toxicological effects of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) occur secondary to kinetic overload. Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) is a volatile, highly lipophilic monomer used to produce silicone polymers, which are ingredients in many consumer products and used widely in industrial applications and processes. Chronic inhalation at D4 concentrations 104 times greater than human exposures produces mild effects in rat respiratory tract, liver weight increase and pigment accumulation, nephropathy, uterine endometrial epithelial hyperplasia, non-significant increased uterine endometrial adenomas, and reduced fertility secondary to inhibition of rat-specific luteinizing hormone (LH) surge. Mechanistic studies indicate a lack of human relevance for most of these effects. Respiratory tract effects arise in rats due to direct epithelial contact with mixed vapor/aerosols and increased liver weight is a rodent-specific adaptative induction of drug-metabolizing hepatic enzymes. D4 is not mutagenic or genotoxic, does not interact with dopamine receptors, and interacts at ERα with potency insufficient to cause uterine effects or to alter the LH surge in rats. These mechanistic findings suggest high-dose-dependence of the toxicological effects secondary to kinetic overload, a hypothesis that can be tested when appropriate kinetic data are available that can be probed for the existence of a KMD. We applied Bayesian analysis with differential equations to information from kinetic studies on D4 to build statistical distributions of plausible values of the Km and Vmax for D4 elimination. From those distributions of likely Km and Vmax values, a set of Michaelis-Menten equations were generated that are likely to represent the slope function for the relationship between D4 exposure and blood concentration. The resulting Michaelis-Menten functions were then investigated using a change-point methodology known as the "kneedle" algorithm to identify the probable KMD range. We validated our Km and Vmax using out of sample data. Analysis of the Michaelis-Menten elimination curve generated from those Vmax and Km values indicates a KMD with an interquartile range of 230.0-488.0ppm [2790-5920mg/m3; 9.41-19.96µM]. The KMD determined here for D4 is consistent with prior work indicating saturation of D4 metabolism at approximately 300ppm [3640mg/m3; 12.27µM] and supports the hypothesis that many adverse effects of D4 arise secondary to high-dose-dependent events, likely due to mechanisms of action that cannot occur at concentrations below the KMD. Regulatory methods to evaluate D4 for human health protection should avoid endpoint data from rodents exposed to D4 above the KMD range and future toxicological testing should focus on doses below the KMD range.

Ultra-Sensitive Gaseous Styrene and Isoprene Detection with a Ratiometric Fluorescence Probe of Eu(III)-Incorporated UiO-67.

The development of probes for the efficient detection of volatile organic compounds is crucial for both human health protection and environmental monitoring. In this study, we successfully synthesized a ratiometric fluorescent sensing material [Eu-UiO-67 (1:1)], featuring dual-emission fluorescence peaks via a one-pot method. This material demonstrated exceptional ratiometric fluorescence recognition properties for liquid styrene and isoprene, achieving low limit of detections (LODs) of 6.2 and 20.24 ppb, respectively. Furthermore, we leveraged its outstanding photoluminescence properties to fabricate a Eu-UiO-67 film, which exhibited distinctive fluorescence responses toward gaseous styrene and isoprene. This unique behavior resulted in LODs of 12.42 ppb for gaseous styrene and 15.39 ppb for gaseous isoprene. The investigation into the sensing mechanisms revealed that the fluorescence response for styrene was mediated by an internal filtration effect, which arose from the competitive energy absorption between styrene and the Eu-UiO-67 (1:1) material. In contrast, fluorescence resonance energy transfer occurred between isoprene and the Eu-UiO-67 (1:1) materials. This approach offers a sensitive and reliable method for the detection of liquid/gaseous styrene and isoprene.

Quantifying sources of variability in fish bioaccumulation factor estimates for perfluoro-n-octane sulfonic acid: study design effects and implications for water quality criteria

Abstract Numeric water quality criteria development approaches for the protection of aquatic life and human health incorporate bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) as key exposure pathways. These are typically derived from field-collected tissue and ambient water concentration data, and are often highly variable within and across species. Existing guidance for conducting BAF field studies is necessarily general to accommodate research objectives, ecosystem characteristics, and the chemicals and species of interest. However, the direction on evaluating study quality and understanding of the relative influence of study design components on BAFs is limited. We used a large, publicly available dataset of perfluoro-n-octane sulfonic acid (PFOS) concentrations in water and fish tissue to (1) evaluate overall patterns and drivers of water and fish tissue PFOS concentrations and derived BAFs, and (2) quantify how biological, environmental, and study design factors regarding water and tissue samples affect derived BAFs. PFOS tissue concentrations and BAFs differed significantly with species and, although variable, there was a significant positive relationship between PFOS water and fish tissue concentrations. Using biological, environmental, and study design variables, boosted regression tree analyses showed that spatial proximity between water and fish tissue sampling locations was the primary driver of BAF variability owing to large differences in water concentrations across hydraulically connected sites. Other variables, including temporal proximity between samples and biological and environmental factors, were less influential relative to spatial proximity. Our findings demonstrate that BAF study design decisions can have significant implications for key water quality criteria derivation components and highlight the need for sampling regimes that accurately characterize exposure to improve the quality of BAFs used in risk assessment and the development of regulatory standards.

Oxygen vacancy and interface effect dual modulation of SnS2/SnO2 heterojunction for boosting formaldehyde detection at low temperature.

Formaldehyde (HCHO) is a harmful volatile organic pollutant, which is commonly found in interior decoration and furniture products. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a gas sensor that can quickly and accurately detect formaldehyde for human health and environmental protection. In order to achieve this goal, in this work, SnS2/SnO2 heterostructure was synthesized by in-situ sulfurization process on the basis of SnO2 nanospheres, and its formaldehyde sensing performance was studied. After testing, it was found that the gas sensor based on SnS2/SnO2 heterojunction has more excellent gas sensing performance than pure SnO2 gas sensor at the same operating temperature (100°C). Specifically, SnS2/SnO2-2 (Sn:S=3:2) has the advantages of high sensitivity (4.01at 0.1ppm), excellent selectivity, low theoretical detection limit (13.26ppb), good humidity resistance and long-term stability. The excellent sensing performance of SnS2/SnO2 sensors for formaldehyde detection is mainly attributed to the n-n heterojunction formed by SnS2 and SnO2, which generates a built-in electric field to accelerate the electron transport in the material, the higher oxygen vacancy sites adsorb a large number of reactive gas molecules to promote the oxidation of formaldehyde molecules, and the unique porous structure to promote the transmission and diffusion of gases and increase the surface area to provide more adsorption sites and reactive centers for gas molecules. Therefore, the construction of SnS2/SnO2 heterostructures will be an effective way to develop next-generation formaldehyde gas sensors with higher sensing performance.

A Molecularly Imprinted Electrochemical Sensor for Carbendazim Detection Based on Synergy Amplified Effect of Bioelectrocatalysis and Nanocomposites.

The highly selective and sensitive determination of pesticide residues in food is critical for human health protection. Herein, the specific selectivity of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) was proposed to construct an electrochemical sensor for the detection of carbendazim (CBD), one of the famous broad-spectrum fungicides, by combining with the synergistic effect of bioelectrocatalysis and nanocomposites. Gold nanoparticle-reduced graphene oxide (AuNP-rGO) composites were electrodeposited on a polished glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Then the MIP films were electropolymerized on the surface of the nanolayer using CBD as the template molecule and o-phenylenediamine (OPD) as the monomer. The detection sensitivity of CBD on the heterogeneous structure films was greatly amplified by AuNP-rGO composites and the bioelectrochemical oxidation of glucose, which was catalyzed by glucose oxidase (GOD) with the help of mediator in the underlying solution. The developed sensor showed high selectivity, good reproducibility, and excellent stability towards CBD with the linear range from 2.0 × 10-9 to 7.0 × 10-5 M, and the limit of detection (LOD) of 0.68 nM (S/N = 3). The expected system would provide a new idea for the development of simple and sensitive molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensors (MIESs).

Proposal to Reclassify SCCPs Under International Regulations on Ship Recycling to Enhance Environmental and Human Health Protection

Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants that have been detected in various human tissues and organs. Based on the results of numerous studies indicating that exposure to environmentally relevant doses could induce harm to humans and animals, they have been listed in Annex A (Elimination) of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. They are also listed as hazardous materials likely to lead to significant adverse effects on human health or the environment by the International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (Hong Kong Convention) and the EU Ship Recycling Regulation (EU SRR). This paper analyzes recent literature on the environmental and human health impacts of SCCPs and the actual practice of shipbreaking to demonstrate that the current treatment of SCCPs under these two regulations does not provide sufficient protection for human health and the environment. Based on the presented data, it is proposed that SCCPs should be reclassified as materials whose installation or use is prohibited in shipyards, ship repair yards, and ships by the EU SRR and the Hong Kong Convention.

Report of the First ONTOX Hackathon: Hack to Save Lives and Avoid Animal Suffering. The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Toxicology - A Potential Driver for Reducing/Replacing Laboratory Animals in the Future.

The first ONTOX Hackathon of the EU Horizon 2020-funded ONTOX project was held on 21-23 April 2024 in Utrecht, The Netherlands (https://ontox-project.eu/hackathon/). This participatory event aimed to collectively advance innovation for human safety through the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and hence significantly reduce reliance on animal-based testing. Expert scientists, industry leaders, young investigators, members of animal welfare organisations and academics alike, joined the hackathon. Eight teams were stimulated to find innovative solutions for challenging themes, that were selected based on previous discussions between stakeholders, namely: How to drive the use of AI in chemical risk assessment?; To predict or protect?; How can we secure human health and environmental protection at the same time?; and How can we facilitate the transition from animal tests to full implementation of human-relevant methods? The hackathon ended with a pitching contest, where the teams presented their solutions to a jury. The most promising solutions will be presented to regulatory authorities, industry, academia and non-governmental organisations at the next ONTOX Stakeholder Network meeting and taken up by the ONTOX project in order to tackle the above-mentioned challenges further. This report comprises two parts: The first part highlights some of the lessons learnt during the planning and execution of the hackathon; the second part presents the outcome of the ONTOX Hackathon, which resulted in several innovative and promising solutions based on New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), and outlines ONTOX's intended way forward.

Human Health, Environmental Comfort and Well-Being. Part 2. Ecological Comfort as a New and Strategic Factor in the Protection of Modern Human Health

Since the dawn of humanity, human beings have inherently sought a state of security, trying to make their existence as comfortable as possible. Accordingly, among the many factors affecting human health, comfort and well-being, the quality of the micro-environment and ecology, as well as the health care system and health-saving resources, are important. In this regard, environmental security, with its systemic nature, brings a significant contribution to the PPM model by optimizing the state of balance in the interrelationship of natural, anthropogenic, physiological and social processes. Accordingly, individualized nutrition and pharmacointervention for preventive and prophylactic purposes, being important tools for health preservation, represent an integrative approach aimed at understanding the interaction between nutrition and the environment within the formed or formed lifestyle. This review will consider the main components of human health protection, as well as their impact on the preservation of ecobiocenosis stability.

Electrochemical detection of catechol with a disposable carbon nanotube paste electrode modified with CTAB

Abstract The accurate and rapid detection of catechol which is a class of highly toxic organic phenolic compounds, is of great importance for the protection of environment and human health. In this work, a novel electrochemical sensor for catechol was constructed by modifying multi-walled carbon nanotube paste microelectrode with a cationic surfactant of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) through a simple and controllable adsorption method. Electrochemical experiment results show that the modified electrode has good electrocatalytic effect to the electrochemical response of catechol. The electrochemical response mechanism of the sensor to catechol were investigated through using many analytical methods, including scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and electrochemical techniques. Under the optimal fabrication and application conditions, the response current of catechol on the sensor exhibits a good linear relationship with its concentration from 1.0 μmol/L ~ 7.0 mmol/L with a sensitivity of 1.33 nA/(μmol/L) and a low detection limit of 15 nmol/L (S/N = 3). Applying the sensor in the detection of catechol in tap water samples and urine samples, the results were satisfactory, indicating its good application prospect.

Protection of human health during earthquakes in buildings of a eigid type

According to Article 9 of the Federal Law No. 384-FZ “Technical Regulations on the Safety of Buildings and Structures”, construction sites in earthquake-prone areas are required to protect human life and health in an earthquake. In addition, in clause 5.3. of the sanitary norms of the CH 2.2.4/2.1.8.566-96 “Industrial vibration, vibration in the premises of residential and public buildings” it is even theoretically justified that increased vibration of buildings has a harmful effect on human health. However, in the Building Regulations 14.13330.2018 “Construction in seismic areas”, the requirement of Federal Law No. 384-FZ and bR 2.2.4/2.1.8.566-96 for the protection of human health is simply ignored. Therefore, in the article, calculations of vibrations in buildings during earthquakes of 7, 8, 9 points show that the protection of human health during these seismic impacts is possible in construction objects only of a rigid type.

(Micro)Plastic Foreign Bodies in Food and Feed: Notifications in the European Union

Plastic particles, including microplastics, are increasingly common contaminants of the food chain, raising concerns over human health effects. The objective of this work was to contribute to a better understanding of their presence in food and feed based on notifications of plastic foreign bodies in the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) of the European Union. Visible plastics accounted for 25 notifications per year from 2020 to 2023 (four years), becoming the third most common foreign body after glass and metal. Contamination is likely to originate during processing and packaging. Even though these results confirm the presence of plastics in the European food chain, notifications provide limited information and only visible particles may be reported. Regulations must establish active monitoring and limits for plastic particles in foods and feeds (e.g., in an amendment to Commission Regulation (EC) no. 1881/2006), including for smaller particle sizes (i.e., microplastics). However, the establishment of regulations is limited by knowledge gaps in analytical methods, foodstuff contamination, and toxicity. Research studies should prioritize knowledge gaps needed to support regulatory action and, ultimately, human health protection.

Utilization and Separation of Flavonoids in the Food and Medicine Industry: Current Status and Perspectives

Flavonoids are the most abundant functional compounds distributed in higher plants, and are used as important dietary components for human health protection. The development of natural flavonoids, such as functional food or medicinal food, has received extensive attention in recent years. The extraction, separation, and quantitation of flavonoids are the key techniques in the utilization of flavonoid resources. The traditional methods for flavonoid extraction and separation always used toxic solvents, which produce toxic residues and pollute the environment. Based on an analysis of the literature on flavonoid resources, the utilization, separation, quantitation, and green separation techniques of flavonoids were summarized. First, extraction by hot water or hot ethanol, assisted by pressurization and microwave-ultrasonication, then concentration and precipitation of flavonoids by cool water or cool ethanol or ethanol/water in specific ratios. This method could obtain over 85% purity in the first cycle and over 95% purity after three precipitation cycles in the separation of the most commonly used flavonoids, such as dihydromyricetin, rutin, and quercetin. In conclusion, flavonoids showed great prospects in human health protection and disease treatment. Chemical structure-based separation using the water–ethanol methods and assisted with microwave-ultrasonication, pressurization, and temperature regulation proved to be efficient and environmentally friendly, showing great potential for the flavonoid industry. These “green” processing techniques and mechanisms deserve further research.

Unveiling the threat of lead, cadmium, and nickel toxicity in salient commercially grown vegetables in Kolkata, India.

Heavy metal (HM) contamination in agricultural crops, particularly vegetables, is a matter of global concern due to its potential health risks to humans. Commercially growing vegetable samples were analyzed for heavy metals using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) for leafy greens and fruit vegetables collected during winter from highly susceptible zones, in the vicinity of Kolkata. ICP-MS is advantageous over Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) for unparalleled accuracy, efficiency, faster turnaround time, cost-effectiveness, etc. The results revealed that Saturia (Pb, 0.1-0.3 mg/Kg; Cd, 0.1 mg//kg; Ni, 0.1-0.2 mg/Kg) and Dhapa (Pb, 0.2-1.3 mg/Kg; Cd, 0.07-0.2 mg/Kg; Ni, 0.1-0.3 mg/Kg) have shown significantly higher heavy metal accumulation in the edible part of the vegetables. Leafy vegetables such as red spinach, bathua, and coriander have shown much higher accumulation (Pb, 0.1-1.3 mg/Kg; Cd, 0.07-0.2 mg/Kg; Ni, 0.1-0.2) than fruit vegetables in the edible parts, except capsicum from Chelegualia (Pb, 0.11 mg/Kg; Cd, 0.135 mg/Kg; 0.18 mg/Kg). Translocation factor (< 1.5) and bioaccumulation factor (< 1.2) are observed to have lower values for Dhapa, Saturia, Jirangachi, Raghunathpur, and Kulti compared to Chelegualia, Gabtala, and Vogalirampur. The health-risk effect Hazard Index is greatest in Dhapa, Saturia, and Chelegualia regions. Pb in red spinach and mustard in Dhapa had a higher hazard quotient. The study highlights the need for monitoring the regulation of HM contamination in commercially growing belts near Kolkata to ensure food safety and protection of human health. Putative remedial strategies like phytoremediation involving hyperaccumulators, soil amendments like biochar, and microbial mechanisms for diminishing the translocation of HMs to edible commodities are being explored presently.

Pesticide use in integrated pest and pollinator management framework to protect pollinator health.

Agricultural pesticides have historically been a critical tool in controlling pests and diseases, preventing widespread suffering and crop losses that led to catastrophes such as the Great Irish Famine (1845-1852) and the Cotton Boll Weevil Infestation (1915-1916). However, their usage has brought challenges, including resistance development, secondary pest outbreaks, harm to non-target organisms like pollinators, and environmental contamination. In response to these concerns, integrated pest management (IPM) has emerged as a comprehensive approach, emphasizing non-chemical pest control methods such as cultural practices, biological control, and crop rotation, with pesticides as the last resort. IPM has evolved, influenced by regulations like the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA), which prioritizes human health protection, especially for children. The development of systemic pesticides, particularly neonicotinoids, introduced a more efficient and targeted pest control method within the IPM framework. However, they have also raised concerns due to their potential adverse effects on pollinators. In recent years, integrated pest and pollinator management (IPPM) has emerged as an enhanced approach, integrating pollinator health considerations into pest management strategies. In this article, we discuss this new approach, and briefly present an example of a modifying pesticide program in Pennsylvania apple orchards to illustrate the application of IPPM, in order to highlight the importance of IPPM in sustaining agriculture, protecting vital pollinators, and maintaining effective pest control practices. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Preliminary Analysis of the Chemical Characteristics and Boron Sources of Surface Water and Groundwater in the Cherchen River Basin of Xinjiang

The climate of the Cherchen River Basin （CRB） is dry and rainless and the water resources are relatively scarce. Identifying the chemical characteristics and high boron sources of surface water and groundwater in the basin is important for the sustainable development and utilization of water resources and the protection of animals, plants, and human health. To preliminarily explore the chemical characteristics and the main sources of boron （B） in the CRB, a total of 46 groups of water samples （including six groups of river water and 40 groups of well water） were collected in 2023. The chemical characteristics of surface water and groundwater and the sources of boron in the CRB were preliminarily analyzed using a Piper diagram, Gibbs chart, correlation analysis, hydrogeochemical simulation, and absolute principal component analysis （PCA-APCS-MLR） and the contribution of different factors to boron and other chemical components was quantitatively evaluated. The results showed that the water resources in the CRB were weakly alkaline, with an average pH of 7.99. The groundwater was mostly brackish water and salt water and the anions and cations were mainly Cl- and Na+. Many types of water chemistry were present, among which the river water was mainly SO4·Cl-Na type and HCO3·SO4·Cl-Na type. The groundwater was mainly SO4·Cl-Na type. The average content of boron in river water in the area was 1.80 mg·L-1 and the over standard rate was 66.7%. The average content of boron in groundwater was 1.48 mg·L-1 and the exceeding standard rate was 45.0%. APCS-MLR receptor model analysis further revealed that the major sources of water chemical components and boron were leaching-enrichment, anthropogenic activity, and primary geological factors and unknown sources. The phenomenon of boron exceeding the standard in the water of the Cherchen River Basin was obvious, mainly due to agricultural activities （fertilizers and pesticides） and unknown sources. Isotope technology may further identify the main sources of boron in water.

A Multifunctional Tb(III)-Based Metal-Organic Framework for Chemical Conversion of CO2, Fluorescence Sensing of Trace Water and Metamitron.

The utilization of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as fluorescent sensors for the detection of environmental and chemical reagent pollutants as well as heterogeneous catalysis for CO2 conversion represents a crucial avenue of research with significant implications for the protection of human health. In this work, a Tb(III)-based three-dimensional metal-organic framework, [Tb(L)·4DMF]n (Tb-MOF) (H3L = 5'-(4-carboxy-3-hydroxyphenyl)-3,3″-dihydroxy-[1,1':3',1″-terphenyl]-4,4″-dicarboxylic acid), has been structurally conformed by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. It possesses a 1D rhombus channel along the [010] direction, featuring a pore size of 6.02 × 9.13 Å. Tb-MOF was proved to be a multifunctional material for a fluorescent sensor and CO2 cycloaddition heterogeneous catalyst material. Fluorescence sensing studies revealed that Tb-MOF demonstrates high sensitivity, selectivity, and favorable regeneration properties, making it an effective chemosensor for detecting the metamitron (MMT) pesticide and trace water in organic solvents. The mechanism of fluorescence quenching by MMT and water was elucidated by a combination of XRD, UV-vis absorption spectra, IR spectra, theoretical calculations, and fluorescence lifetimes. The material was also utilized for the sensing of MMT and water in paper strips. Additionally, the open Tb3+ site as Lewis acidic centers makes Tb-MOF achieve efficiently catalytic conversion for CO2 and epoxides to cyclic carbonates. Moreover, a possible catalytic mechanism for the conversion of carbon dioxide to cyclic carbonates was proposed by in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) experiments. It also exhibited recyclability for up to five cycles without noticing an appreciable loss in sensing or catalytic efficiency.