Public Health Risk Research Articles

Meta-analysis reveals the combined effects of microplastics and heavy metal on plants

The combined pollution of microplastics and heavy metals is becoming increasingly serious, and its effects on toxicology and heavy metal accumulation of plants are closely related to crop yield and population health. Here, we collected 57 studies to investigate the effect of microplastics on heavy metal accumulation in plants and their combined toxicity. An assessment was conducted to discover the primary pollutant responsible for the toxicity of combined pollution on plants. The study examined the influence of microplastic characteristics, heavy metal characteristics, and experimental methods on this pollutant. The results showed that combined toxicity of plants was more similar to heavy metals, whereas microplastics interacted with heavy metals mainly by inducing oxidative stress damage. Culture environment, heavy metal type, experimental duration, microplastic concentration and microplastic size were the main factors affecting heavy metal accumulation in plants. There was a negative correlation between experimental duration, microplastic concentration and microplastic size with heavy metal accumulation in plants. The interactions among influencing factors were found, and microplastic biodegradation was the core factor of the strong interaction. These results provided comprehensive insights and guiding strategies for environmental and public health risks caused by the combined pollution of microplastics and heavy metals.

Molecular Characterization of Multidrug-Resistant and Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamases-Producing Salmonella enterica Serovars Enteritidis and Typhimurium Isolated from Raw Meat in Retail Markets.

In the present study, a total of 720 samples were collected from retail raw meat from 13 upazilas in Sylhet District, Bangladesh, of which 225 samples were from cattle meat, 210 samples were from goat meat, and 285 samples were from chicken meat. Salmonella enterica serovars Typhimurium and Enteritidis were screened for extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) genes using multiplex PCR. Among the 720 samples, Salmonella spp. was detected in 28.06% (202 out of 720) of the samples, with S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium were identified in 11.53% (83 out of 720) and 12.22% (88 out of 720) of the samples, respectively. It was found that all Salmonella enterica serovars isolated from cattle meat displayed multidrug resistance (MDR) based on antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Notably, a significant proportion of S. Enteritidis isolates and all S. Typhimurium isolates from goat meat demonstrated complete resistance to multiple drugs (ampicillin, cefuroxime, and ceftazidime). Regarding chicken meat, out of 89 isolates encompassing both S. Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis, 57 isolates (64.04%) exhibited MDR. Additionally, blaCTX-M-1 exhibited the highest occurrence at 15.69% for S. Typhimurium and 7.89% for S. Enteritidis in chicken meat. Moreover, blaCTX-M-9 was only detected at 3.92% for S. Enteritidis in chicken meat. Furthermore, blaOXA had the highest prevalence rate of 19.04% for S. Enteritidis and 25.80% for S. Typhimurium in cattle meat, followed by chicken meat. These findings highlight the urgency for monitoring ESBL-producing Salmonella in retail raw meat and the need for strict measure to manage antibiotic use to prevent the spread of multidrug-resistant and ESBL-producing Salmonella strains, thereby protecting humans and reducing public health risks.

Evaluation of molecular-based methods for the detection and quantification of Cryptosporidium spp. in wastewater

Cryptosporidium poses significant public health risks as a cause of waterborne disease worldwide. Clinical surveillance of cryptosporidiosis is largely underreported due to the asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic infections, clinical misdiagnoses, and barriers to access testing. Wastewater surveillance overcomes these limitations and could serve as an effective tool for identifying cryptosporidiosis at the population level. Despite its potential, the lack of standardized wastewater surveillance methods for Cryptosporidium spp. challenges implementation design and the comparability between studies. Thus, this study compared and contrasted Cryptosporidium wastewater surveillance methods for concentrating wastewater oocysts, extracting oocyst DNA, and detecting Cryptosporidium genetic markers. The evaluated concentration methods included electronegative membrane filtration, Envirocheck HV capsule filtration, centrifugation, and Nanotrap Microbiome Particles, with and without additional immunomagnetic separation purification (except for the Nanotrap Microbiome Particles). Oocyst DNA extraction by either the DNeasy Powersoil Pro kit and the QIAamp DNA Mini kit were evaluated and the impact of bead beating and freeze-thaw pretreatments on DNA recoveries was assessed. Genetic detection via qPCR assays targeting either the Cryptosporidium 18S rRNA gene or the Cryptosporidium oocyst wall protein gene were tested. Oocyst recovery percentages were highest for centrifugation (39–77 %), followed by the Nanotrap Microbiome Particles (24 %), electronegative filtration with a PBST elution (22 %), and Envirocheck HV capsule filtration (13 %). Immunomagnetic separation purification was found to be unsuitable due to interference from the wastewater matrix. Bead-beating pretreatment enhanced DNA recoveries from both the DNeasy Powersoil Pro kit (314 gc/μL DNA) and the QIAamp DNA Mini kit (238 gc/μL DNA). In contrast, freeze-thaw pretreatment reduced DNA recoveries to under 92 gc/μL DNA, likely through DNA degradation. Finally, while both qPCR assays were specific to Cryptosporidium spp., the 18S rRNA assay had a 5-fold lower detection limit and could detect a wider range of Cryptosporidium spp. than the Cryptosporidium oocyst wall protein assay.

Prevalence of Cadmium and Lead Residues in Fried Meat (Suya) Sold in Kaduna Metropolis, Kaduna State, Nigeria

Study’s Novelty/Excerpt This study is novel as it provides the first comprehensive analysis of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) contamination in various types of suya meat in Kaduna, Nigeria, using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. Unlike previous research, this study uniquely examines multiple animal sources and local government areas, offering a detailed comparison of contamination levels across species and regions. Additionally, the findings highlight the widespread public health risk due to Cd and Pb levels exceeding international safety standards, emphasizing the urgent need for regulatory measures to mitigate environmental pollution and protect public health. Full Abstract Heavy metals are of public health concern worldwide due to their damaging effects on human and animal health. The study was aimed at analyzing the presence of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) residues in suya meats; cattle meat (beef), sheep meat (mutton), goat meat (chevon), fowl meat (chicken) and dog meat sold in the Kaduna metropolis, Kaduna State. A descriptive-quantitative research design was used, with fifty samples collected from four Local Government Areas (Chikun, Igabi, Kaduna North and Kaduna South). Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometery was used to analyze and quantify the presence of these heavy metals. Microsoft Excel (Version 2019) and one-way ANOVA are the statistical tools used for result analysis and Cd and Pb were found to be present in all the suya samples analyzed. The results showed statistical significance (p<0.05) between the overall mean concentration of Cd (0.049 mg/kg) and Pb (0.44 mg/kg) in the samples. Even though the mean concentration of Cd in suya samples varied with regards to which the animal originates viz: cattle (0.033 mg/kg), sheep (0.058 mg/kg), goat (0.048 mg/kg), dog (0.04 mg/kg) and chicken (0.078 mg/kg); likewise that of Pb: cattle (0.47 mg/kg), sheep (0.41 mg/kg), goat (0.41 mg/kg), dog (0.39 mg/kg) and chicken (0.51 mg/kg); the animal species from which the meat used in making the suya had no statistically significant influence on the heavy metal content of the meat (p˃0.05). The mean concentration of Cd and Pb obtained within the study areas, in mg/kg were: Chikun (0.046 and 0.43), Igabi (0.044 and 0.43), Kaduna North (0.054 mg/kg) and (0.49 mg/kg), Kaduna South (0.053 mg/kg) and (0.41 mg/kg) respectively. The mean concentration of cadmium and lead in the suya samples was above the permissible limits set by EC and FAO limits of 0.01ug/g lead and 0.003ug/g for cadmium (FAO, 1983), indicating the general contamination of suya meats by heavy metals. The study recommends public measures to minimize environmental pollution and bioaccumulation of Cd and Pb to prevent related ailments and mortality; enforcing regulations governing industrial activities and waste disposal to protect the public from heavy metals pollution.

Towards the definition of an antibiotic resistome signature in wastewater and downstream environments

Domestic wastewater is a significant reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes, which pose environmental and public health risks. We aimed to define an antibiotic resistome signature, represented by core genes, i.e., shared by ≥ 90% of the metagenomes of each of three conceptual environmental compartments – wastewater (influent, sludge, effluent), freshwater, and agricultural soil. The definition of resistome signatures would support the proposal of a framework for monitoring treatment efficacy and assessing the impact of treated wastewater discharge into the environment, such as freshwater and agricultural soil.Metagenomic data from 163 samples originating from wastewater (n = 81), freshwater (n = 58), and agricultural soils (n = 24) across different regions (29 countries, 5 continents), were analysed regarding antibiotic resistance diversity, based on annotation against a database that merged CARD and ResFinder databases. The relative abundance of the total antibiotic resistance genes (corresponding to the ratio between the antibiotic resistance genes and total reads number) was not statistically different between raw and treated wastewater, being significantly higher than in freshwater or agricultural soils. The latter had the significantly lowest relative abundance of antibiotic resistance genes. Genes conferring resistance to aminoglycosides, beta-lactams, and tetracyclines were among the most abundant in wastewater environments, while multidrug resistance was equally distributed across all environments. The wastewater resistome signature included 27 antibiotic resistance genes that were detected in at least 90% of the wastewater resistomes, and that were not frequent in freshwater or agricultural soil resistomes. Among these were genes responsible for resistance to tetracyclines (n = 8), macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (n = 7), aminoglycosides (n = 4), beta-lactams (n = 3), multidrug (n = 2), sulphonamides (n = 2), and polypeptides (n = 1). This comprehensive assessment provides valuable insights into the dynamics of antibiotic resistance in urban wastewater systems and their potential ecological implications in diverse environmental settings. Furthermore, provides guidance for the implementation of One Health monitoring approaches.

Quantitative source apportionment of faecal indicator bacteria from anthropogenic and zoogenic sources of faecal contamination

Recreational bathing waters are complex systems with diverse inputs from multiple anthropogenic and zoogenic sources of faecal contamination. Faecal contamination is a substantial threat to water quality and public health. Here we present a comprehensive strategy to estimate the contribution of faecal indicator bacteria (FIB) from different biological sources on two at-risk beaches in Dublin, Ireland. The daily FIB loading rate was determined for three sources of contamination: a sewage-impacted urban stream, dog and wild bird fouling. This comparative analysis determined that the stream contributed the highest daily levels of FIB, followed by dog fouling. Dog fouling may be a significant source of FIB, contributing approximately 20 % of E. coli under certain conditions, whereas wild bird fouling contributed a negligible proportion of FIB (<3 %). This study demonstrates that source-specific quantitative microbial source apportionment (QMSA) strategies are vital to identify primary public health risks and target interventions to mitigate faecal contamination.

Unveiling the Secrets of Acinetobacter baumannii: Resistance, Current Treatments, and Future Innovations.

Acinetobacter baumannii represents a significant concern in nosocomial settings, particularly in critically ill patients who are forced to remain in hospital for extended periods. The challenge of managing and preventing this organism is further compounded by its increasing ability to develop resistance due to its extraordinary genomic plasticity, particularly in response to adverse environmental conditions. Its recognition as a significant public health risk has provided a significant impetus for the identification of new therapeutic approaches and infection control strategies. Indeed, currently used antimicrobial agents are gradually losing their efficacy, neutralized by newer and newer mechanisms of bacterial resistance, especially to carbapenem antibiotics. A deep understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms is urgently needed to shed light on the properties that allow A. baumannii enormous resilience against standard therapies. Among the most promising alternatives under investigation are the combination sulbactam/durlobactam, cefepime/zidebactam, imipenem/funobactam, xeruborbactam, and the newest molecules such as novel polymyxins or zosurabalpin. Furthermore, the potential of phage therapy, as well as deep learning and artificial intelligence, offer a complementary approach that could be particularly useful in cases where traditional strategies fail. The fight against A. baumannii is not confined to the microcosm of microbiological research or hospital wards; instead, it is a broader public health dilemma that demands a coordinated, global response.

Chronic PM2.5 exposure disrupts intestinal barrier integrity via microbial dysbiosis-triggered TLR2/5-MyD88-NLRP3 inflammasome activation

BackgroundPM2.5, a known public health risk, is increasingly linked to intestinal disorders, however, the mechanisms of its impact are not fully understood. PurposeThis study aimed to explore the impact of chronic PM2.5 exposure on intestinal barrier integrity and to uncover the underlying molecular mechanisms. MethodsC57BL/6 J mice were exposed to either concentrated ambient PM2.5 (CPM) or filtered air (FA) for six months to simulate urban pollution conditions. We evaluated intestinal barrier damage, microbial shifts, and metabolic changes through histopathology, metagenomics, and metabolomics. Analysis of the TLR signaling pathway was also conducted. ResultsThe mean concentration of PM2.5 in the CPM exposure chamber was consistently measured at 70.9 ± 26.8 μg/m³ throughout the study period. Our findings show that chronic CPM exposure significantly compromises intestinal barrier integrity, as indicated by reduced expression of the key tight junction proteins Occludin and Tjp1/Zo-1. Metagenomic sequencing revealed significant shifts in the microbial landscape, identifying 35 differentially abundant species. Notably, there was an increase in pro-inflammatory nongastric Helicobacter species and a decrease in beneficial bacteria, such as Lactobacillus intestinalis, Lactobacillus sp. ASF360, and Eubacterium rectale. Metabolomic analysis further identified 26 significantly altered metabolites commonly associated with intestinal diseases. A strong correlation between altered bacterial species and metabolites was also observed. For example, 4 Helicobacter species all showed positive correlations with 13 metabolites, including Lactate, Bile acids, Pyruvate and Glutamate. Additionally, increased expression levels of TLR2, TLR5, Myd88, and NLRP3 proteins were noted, and their expression patterns showed a strong correlation, suggesting a possible involvement of the TLR2/5-MyD88-NLRP3 signaling pathway. ConclusionsChronic CPM exposure induces intestinal barrier dysfunction, microbial dysbiosis, metabolic imbalance, and activation of the TLR2/5-MyD88-NLRP3 inflammasome. These findings highlight the urgent need for intervention strategies to mitigate the detrimental effects of air pollution on intestinal health and identify potential therapeutic targets.

Global evolutionary dynamics of virulence genes in ST11-KL47 carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae

ST11-KL47 is a hypervirulent carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) that is highly prevalent in China and poses a major public health risk. To investigate the evolutionary dynamics of virulence genes in this subclone, we analysed 78 sequenced isolates obtained from a long-term study across 29 centres from 17 cities in China. Virulence genes were located in large hybrid pNDM-Mar-like plasmids (length: ∼266 kilobases) rather than in classical pK2044-like plasmids. These hybrid plasmids, derived from the fusion of pK2044 and pNDM-Mar plasmids mediated by insertion sequence (IS) elements (such as ISKpn28 and IS26), integrated virulence gene fragments into the chromosome. Analysis of 217 sequences containing the special IncFIB (pNDM-Mar) replicon using public databases indicated that these plasmids typically contained T4SS-related and multiple antimicrobial resistance genes, were present in 24 countries, and were found in humans, animals, and the environment. Notably, the chromosomal integration of virulence genes was observed in strains across five countries across two continents. In vivo and in vitro models showed that the large hybrid plasmid increased the host fitness cost while increasing virulence. Conversely, virulence genes transferred to chromosomes resulted in increased fitness and lower virulence. In conclusion, virulence genes in the plasmids of ST11-KL47 CRKP are evolving, driven by adaptive negative selection, to enable vertical chromosomal inheritance along with conferring a survival advantage and low pathogenicity.

Power implicit in language: A case of the Sri Lankan Government’s securitization of the COVID-19 pandemic

This is an attempt to uncover the ways in which the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) securitized its response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and how that process of securitization functioned in furthering its overall approach to its legitimacy and governance. Regarding this, the article focuses on the language which characterizes the discourse and the references made to the Sri Lankan armed conflict. Using Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), written and audio-visual texts from government media outlets, private media outlets, and English news articles are assessed in this article as primary data. The discourse on the studied corpus reveals how the State securitized its response to COVID-19 as one befitting a military threat rather than a public health risk. In militarizing the securitizing process, the police and triforces were deployed as first respondents. References made to their experience in defeating the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), as well as to former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s role as Defence Secretary in the armed conflict against the LTTE, were used in legitimizing the process of securitization. References made to the “sacrifices” made by the State, and the military, by extension, were used in instilling a sense of responsibility among the public to show their support for the government in its attempt to grapple with the pandemic. The public were also asked to act in unison which included an implied demand for discarding their diverse identities. This article further reveals a novel form of religious securitization emerging from the studied corpus in relation to GoSL’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Serological and molecular survey of Toxoplasma gondii infection and associated risk factors in urban cats in Kunming, Southwest China.

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a worldwide zoonotic parasite that can infect almost warm-blood animals, including humans, which seriously affect the health of host. Cats are known to be the only definitive host of T. gondii and continuously excrete highly infectious oocysts. This parasite carried by the companion animals leads to a great public health risk. However, there is little information on epidemiology of T. gondii in urban cats in Kunming, Southwest China. In the present study, a total of 231 serum and fecal samples were collected in Kunming aera, and then seroprevalence of T. gondii IgG antibodies in serum and molecular investigation in feces were analyzed to elucidate T. gondii infection in urban cats. The results revealed that 168 of 231 cats (72.7%) were positive for T. gondii antibodies, and 1 of 74 cat feces (1.4%) also showed a positive PCR for T. gondii DNA. The positive fecal sample was sequenced and then phylogenetically analyzed, and the isolate of T. gondii in the present study was closely related to T. gondii strain CN. In addition, the food, water and age of cats were identified as the risk factor for seropositivity. Overall, our findings indicate the widespread occurrence of T. gondii infection in urban cats in Kunming, Southwest China and identify food, water and age are the risk factors associated with T. gondii infection, which can provide effective information for developing strategies to prevent and control this zoonosis.

Microbiome and antibiotic resistome in bioelectrochemical toilets for onsite treatment of fecal sludge

Effective management of fecal sludge (FS) is essential for preventing environmental and public health risks. Developing safe and efficient FS treatment technology is crucial for reducing the health risks of onsite sanitation systems. In this study, bioelectrochemical toilets (BETs) were developed to treat FS onsite. Compared with the open-circuit BETs (OC-BETs), BETs exhibited higher removal efficiencies for total organic carbon, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus. Specifically, the enhancements in removal efficiencies were 18.82 ± 1.73 %, 7.28 ± 0.32 %, and 11.41 ± 0.05 % for urine, and 19.28 ± 4.08 %, 21.65 ± 1.23 %, and 24.68 ± 0.95 % for feces, respectively. Microbiome analysis indicated that the dominant populations were affiliated with electroactive bacteria (Desulfuromonas and Pseudomonas) in the electrode biofilm of BETs. The species co-occurrence network showed that the electrode biofilm microbiome in BETs had more complex correlations than that in OC-BETs, suggesting that a weak electrical current enhanced the microbiome stability. The relative abundance of antibiotic resistance genes in BETs and OC-BETs reduced by 59.85 ± 1.32 % and 53.01 ± 2.81 % compared with the initial FS, respectively. These findings indicate that BETs are an alternative system for enhancing onsite treatment of fecal sludge and provide a theoretical foundation for the implementation of BETs.

Association between low maternal serum aflatoxin B1 exposure and adverse pregnancy outcomes in Mombasa, Kenya, 2017-2019: Anested matched case-control study.

We examined the association between serum aflatoxin B1-lysine adduct (AFB1-lys) levels in pregnant women and adverse pregnancy outcomes (low birthweight, miscarriage and stillbirth) through a nested matched case-control study of pregnant women enroled at ≤28 weeks' gestation in Mombasa, Kenya, from 2017 to 2019. Cases comprised women with an adverse birth outcome, defined as either delivery of a singleton infant weighing <2500 g, or a miscarriage, or a stillbirth, while controls were women who delivered a singleton live infant with a birthweight of ≥2500 g. Cases were matched to controls at a ratio of 1:2 based on maternal age at enrolment, gestational age at enrolment and study site. The primary exposure was serum AFB1-lys. The study included 125 cases and 250 controls. The median gestation age when serum samples were collected was 23.0 weeks (interquartile range [IQR]: 18.1-26.0) and 23.5 (IQR: 18.1-26.5) among cases and controls, respectively. Of the 375 tested sera, 145 (38.7%) had detectable serum AFB1-lys: 36.0% in cases and 40.0% in controls. AFB1-lys adduct levels were not associated with adverse birth outcomes on multivariable analysis. Mid-upper arm circumference was associated with a 6% lower odds of adverse birth outcome for every unit increase (p = 0.023). Two-fifths of pregnant women had detectable levels of aflatoxin midway through pregnancy. However, we did not detect an association with adverse pregnancy outcomes, likely because of low serum AFB1-lys levels and low power, restricting meaningful comparison. More research is needed to understand the public health risk of aflatoxin in pregnant women to unborn children.

Development of green infrastructure during the COVID-19 pandemic using spatial analysis methods

In Latin America, there is a lack of green infrastructure (GI) to enhance urban resilience and reduce the contagion levels, particularly in times of pandemic. Therefore, a simplified method is needed to define GI in critical public health risk scenarios, especially when access to geospatial information is limited. The objective of this study is to propose a simplified method called GreenNet-Covid19 in Peru during critical public health scenarios using spatial analysis methods to define the global GI index (GGII) and select the potential integration areas for GI (PIAGI). This method is based on the approach proposed by Aguileraet al. (2018), which utilized spatial analysis in Metropolitan Arequipa and its surroundings during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, in addition to the four dimensions proposed Aguilera et al. (2018), a fifth dimension called ‘risk due to COVID-19’ was introduced, allowing to obtain the GGII and define the PIAGI. The GGII showed high ecological and biodiversity potentials at the vegetation cover level. However, the loss of GGII connectivity in urban areas posed a threat to the intricate connectivity of the highlands, thus increasing the risk of COVID-19 spread. Meanwhile, the PIAGI exhibited relatively low values compared with those of the GGII. Yet, the loss of PIAGI connectivity in urban areas strengthened the factors contributing to COVID-19 propagation. The intersection between the COVID-19 and PIAGI risk layers at the ‘very high,’ ‘high,’ and ‘medium’ levels demonstrated a high capability for reducing the contagion risk in future pandemics. The introduction and implementation of this method in territorial planning is facilitated by its applicability to any Latin American territory.

Mitigating Social Isolation Following the COVID-19 Pandemic: Remedy Messages Shared by Older People

At the beginning of July 2022, when public health restrictions were lifted, we deployed a country-wide e-survey about how older people were managing now after COVID-19 pandemic-related anxiety. Our responder sample was stratified by age, sex, and education to approximate the Canadian population. E-survey responders were asked to share open-text messages about what contemporaries could do to live less socially isolated lives at this tenuous turning point following the pandemic as the COVID-19 virus still lingered. Contracting COVID-19 enhanced older Canadians’ risk for being hospitalized and/or mortality risk. Messages were shared by 1189 of our 1327 e-survey responders. Content analysis revealed the following four calls to action: (1) cultivating community; (2) making room for what is good; (3) not letting your guard down; and (4) voicing out challenges. Responders with no chronic illnesses were more likely to endorse making room for what is good. Those with no diploma, degree, or certificate least frequently instructed others to not let their guard down. While COVID-19 is no longer a major public health risk, a worrisome proportion of older people across the globe are still living socially isolated. We encourage health and social care practitioners and older people to share messages identified in this study with more isolated persons.

Sludge biolysis pretreatment to reduce antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs): Insight into the relationship between potential ARGs hosts and BALOs' preferred prey

As an important reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), the sludge discharged from wastewater treatment plants is the key intermediate for ARG transport into the environment. Bdellovibrio-and-like organisms (BALOs) are predatory bacteria that are expected to attack antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB). In this study, the screened BALOs (C3 & D15) were mixed with the sludge for biolysis to achieve the satisfying removal efficiencies of six tet genes, two sul genes, and one mobile genetic element (intl 1). Among them, tet(Q) demonstrated the highest reduction rate in relative abundance at 87.3 ± 1.0 %, while tet(X) displayed the lowest of 11.7 ± 0.2 %. The microorganisms, including Longilinea, Methanobacterium, Acetobacterium, Sulfurimonas, allobaculum, Gaiella, AAP99, Ellin6067, Rhodoferax, Ferruginibacter and Thermomonas, were expected to play a dual role in the reduction of ARGs by serving as ARB and BALOs’ preferred prey. Meanwhile, BALOs consortium improved ARGs reduction efficiency via the expansion of the prey profile. Additionally, BALOs decreased the relative abundance of not only pathogens (Shinella, Rickettsia, Burkholderia, Acinetobacter, Aeromonas, Clostridium, Klebsiella and Pseudomonas), but also the ARGs' host pathogens (Mycobacterium, Plesiocystis, Burkholderia, and Bacteroides). Therefore, the application of BALOs for sludge biolysis are promising to decrease the sludge's public health risks via limiting the spread of ARGs and pathogens into the environment.

Microplastic Analysis in Soil Using Ultra-High-Resolution UV–Vis–NIR Spectroscopy and Chemometric Modeling

The study of microplastics (MPs) in soils is impeded by similarities between plastic and non-plastic particles and the misidentification of MP by current analytical methods such as visual microscopic examination. Soil MPs pose serious ecological and public health risks because of their abundance, persistence, and ubiquity. Thus, reliable identification methods are badly needed for scientific study. One possible solution is UV–Vis–NIR spectroscopy, which has the ability to rapidly identify and quantify concentrations of soil microplastics. In this study, a full-range, field portable spectrometer (350–2500 nm) with ultra-high spectral resolution (1.5 nm, 3.0 nm, and 3.8 nm) identified three types of common plastics: low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polypropylene (PP). Three sets of artificially MP-treated vermiculite soil samples were prepared for model prediction testing and validation: 150 samples for model calibration and 50 samples for model validation. A partial least square regression model using the spectral signatures for quantification of soil and MP mixtures was built with all three plastic polymers. Prediction R2 values of all three polymers showed promising results: polypropylene R2 = 0.943, polyvinyl chloride R2 = 0.983, and polyethylene R2 = 0.957. Our study supports previous work showing that combining ultra-high-resolution UV–Vis–NIR spectrometry with quantitative modeling can improve the accuracy and speed of MP identification and quantification in soil.

Ticks and lyme disease in natural areas: A segmentation analysis of visitor perceptions of risk and preferred communication strategies

Reported Lyme disease cases have been rapidly increasing globally in recent years. Despite this, few studies have explored how the public perceives health risks associated with ticks and Lyme disease, especially within the context of visitor experiences in natural areas. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a survey of visitors to one of Ontario, Canada’s most visited provincial parks. Despite high perceptions of risk, few visitors feel sufficiently educated about ticks and Lyme disease. Further, only 51% of visitors would return to the park if future regional incidents of tick-borne illnesses increased by 10–30% (under climate change). Interestingly, no significant correlations were uncovered between home distance and tick-related risk perceptions or self-reported tick education levels. These results may be indicative of the normalization of tick-related risk throughout many of southern Ontario’s most populated regions. Finally, our results also revealed that there is no preferred “one-size-fits-all” risk communication strategy that can be used to support risk-reducing behaviour change in a natural areas context. We recommend a diversity of evidence-based, on-site, and off-site strategies, that can be considered by governing authorities not only in Canada but indeed globally to reduce tick-related health and safety risks and ultimately safeguard visitor experiences in natural areas subject to increasing tick prevalence. Management ImplicationsManagement Implications: The expanding range of ticks and increasing cases of Lyme disease are presenting significant risks to those who visit natural areas, requiring increasing management attention and action by governing authorities, including park managers and regional health units. Through a mixed-methods approach, we examined park visitor perceptions, behaviours, and preferred communication strategies regarding tick and Lyme disease risk. The results revealed a number of key findings, including:•While risk perceptions of tick bites are high, few visitors feel sufficiently educated about ticks and Lyme disease;•Only 51% of visitors would return to the park if future regional incidents of tick-borne illnesses increased by 10–30% (under climate change);•Visitors with further travel distances were significantly less likely to return to the park after experiencing an in-park tick bite; and,•There is no preferred “one-size-fits-all” risk communication strategy within a park visitor context.

Modeling Escherichia coli concentrations for health risk analysis in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Chongqing, China

Escherichia coli (E. coli), a typical fecal coliform, can enter surface rivers through daily wastewater and septic effluents, as well as the use of fecal fertilizers. Pathogenic strains of E. coli pose a significant public health risk. Despite China’s rapid economic and social development, sanitation and watershed management still face challenges. In this study, we employ a combined model of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool and Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment to predict pollution changes, considering social development and climate change. Our aim is to quantify the risks and assess pollution prevention strategies for E. coli in the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) region. The results indicated that under moderate development, the average E. coli concentrations and disease burdens were 367 ± 75 CFU/100 mL and 23.4 (95 % Confidence Interval (CI): 2.8–72.6) Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs, per 1,000,000 population per year), respectively. Under rapid development, these values were 330 ± 58 CFU/100 mL and 21.2 (95 % CI: 2.6–65.1) DALYs, respectively. Implementing a point strategy, mainly increasing sewage collection rates, could reduce E. coli concentrations by approximately 30 % and disease burdens by 27–28 %. For a diffuse strategy, primarily extending composting duration, reductions of 9 % in E. coli concentrations and 7–8 % in disease burdens were observed. Combining both strategies resulted in a 40 % decrease in E. coli concentrations and 35–36 % reduction in disease burdens. This model, incorporating social development, climate change, and microbial risk, provides insights into predicting pollution changes and evaluating the effectiveness of prevention strategies for E. coli in the TGR region and similar watersheds.

Entity-centric multi-domain transformer for improving generalization in fake news detection

Fake news has become a significant concern in recent times, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, as spreading false information can pose significant public health risks. Although many models have been suggested to detect fake news, they are often limited in their ability to extend to new emerging domains since they are designed for a single domain. Previous studies on multidomain fake news detection have focused on developing models that can perform well on multiple domains, but they often lack the ability to generalize to new unseen domains, which limits their effectiveness. To overcome this limitation, in this paper, we propose the Entity-centric Multi-domain Transformer (EMT) model. EMT uses entities in the news as key components in learning domain-invariant and domain-specific news representations, which addresses the challenges of domain shift and incomplete domain labeling in multidomain fake news detection. It incorporates entity background information from external knowledge sources to enhance fine-grained news domain representation. EMT consists of a Domain-Invariant (DI) encoder, a Domain-Specific (DS) encoder, and a Cross-Domain Transformer (CT) that facilitates investigation of domain relationships and knowledge interaction with input news, enabling effective generalization. We evaluate the EMT's performance in multi-domain fake news detection across three settings: supervised multi-domain, zero-shot setting on new unseen domain, and limited samples from new domain. EMT demonstrates greater stability than state-of-the-art models when dealing with domain changes and varying training data. Specifically, in the zero-shot setting on new unseen domains, EMT achieves a good F1 score of approximately 72 %. The results highlight the effectiveness of EMT's entity-centric approach and its potential for real-world applications, as it demonstrates the ability to adapt to various training settings and outperform existing models in handling limited label data and adapting to previously unseen domains.