Toxic Hazards Research Articles

A Study on the Phytotoxic Potential of the Seasoning Herb Marjoram (Origanum majorana L.) Leaves.

In the search of new alternatives for weed control, spices appear as an option with great potential. They are rich in bioactive natural products and edible, which might minimize toxicity hazard. Marjoram (Origanum majorana L.) is an aromatic herb that has been widely employed as a seasoning herb in Mediterranean countries. Although marjoram boasts a plethora of therapeutic properties (painkiller, antibiotic, treatment for intestinal disorders, etc.), the potential for its extracts for weed control is still to be more thoroughly explored. In order to determine their phytotoxic potential, marjoram leaves were subjected to different bioguided extraction processes, using water, ethyl acetate, acetone or methanol. The most active extract (acetone) was sequentially fractionated to identify its most active compounds. This fractionation led to the isolation and identification of 25 compounds that were classified as monoterpenes, diterpenes or flavonoids. Among them, a new compound named majoradiol and several compounds are described in marjoram for the first time. The phytotoxicity of the major compounds to etiolated wheat coleoptiles was compared against that of the commercial herbicide (Logran®), with similar or higher activity in some cases. These results confirm the extraordinary potential of the extracts from this edible plant to develop safer and more environmentally friendly herbicides.

Treated Wastewater Irrigation—A Review

As the most important resource for life, water has been a central issue on the international agenda for several decades. Yet, the world’s supply of clean freshwater is steadily decreasing due to extensive agricultural demand for irrigated lands. Therefore, water resources should be used with greater efficiency, and the use of non-traditional water resources, such as Treated Wastewater (TW), should be increased. Reusing TW could be an alternative option to increase water resources. Thus, many countries have decided to turn wastewater into an irrigation resource to help meet urban demand and address water shortages. However, because of the nature of that water, there are potential problems associated with its use in irrigation. Some of the major concerns are health hazards, salinity build-up, and toxicity hazards. The objectives of this comprehensive literature review are to illuminate the importance of using TW in irrigation as an alternative freshwater source and to assess the effects of its use on soil fertility and other soil properties, plants, and public health. The literature review reveals that TW reuse has become part of the extension program for boosting water resource utilization. However, the uncontrolled application of such waters has many unfavorable effects on both soils and plants, especially in the long-term. To reduce these unfavorable effects when using TW in irrigation, proper guidelines for wastewater reuse and management should be followed to limit negative effects significantly.

Isolation of Sludge Protein from Skin Fleshing Wastes by Alkaline Hydrolysis and Determining its Effects as a Fertilizer on Growth of Some Nursery Plants: A Step Towards Tanneries Waste Utilization in Pakistan.

During Leather Processing, Skin Fleshing Wastes (SFW) are usually disposed of in an open area which creates toxic hazards. In this study, (SFW) from tanneries have been hydrolyzed using two alkalis Potassium hydroxide ( 2g/ 100g of SFW ) and Sodium hydroxide ( 4g/100g of SFW) with a sufficient amount of water at 2300 F in Autoclave for two hours. Three resultant fractions fats and oil (approximately 240 g Kg-1 ), protein (approximately 554 g Kg-1 ) and sludge containing a high amount of ashes (approximately 900 g Kg-1 ) were successfully isolated respectively. The yield of fractions was calculated on the wet weight of SFW used after the removal of lime using ammonium sulphate. In this study, the isolated third fraction Fleshing Sludge (FS) from the hydrolyzed fleshing wastes used fertilizer on the six different plants on growth commonly named Ghobi, Cran Dola, Patunia, Placus, Dentist and Dalia. The observations were taken during 30 days of incubation, at the usual temperature. The application of FS in plants observed that growth was enhanced in significant proportion as compare to reference plants supplemented with commercial fertilizer except in the Ghobi sample PS1 which shows some phytotoxicity confirmed by leaf yellowing. The results revealed that the applied sludge has no adverse effect on the growth of other experimental plants. Results were taken by measuring plants according to standard methods

Comparing ecotoxicological and physicochemical indicators of municipal wastewater effluent and river water quality in a Baltic Sea catchment in Poland

While legal regulations require treated wastewater to be tested based only on its physicochemical parameters, surface water assessment also has to include biological indicators. However, neither approach provides a complete picture of water quality due to lack of ecotoxicological information. Therefore, the aim of the study was to perform an ecotoxicological evaluation of treated wastewater and river water in the catchment scale using a battery of biotests. In the period between June 2017 and July 2018, six sets of treated wastewater samples were taken from 17 municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) of different sizes (small: < 2,000 people equivalent - p.e.; medium size: 2,000–9,999 p.e.; large: 15,000–99,999 p.e.), as well as river water samples from seven sites along the 342 km Pilica River in central Poland. Physical and chemical analysis were performed of total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total suspended solids (TSS), as well as organic suspended matter (OSM), ion content (fluorides, nitrates, ammonium, potassium and sulphate), and pH, conductivity and redox potential (RP). Ecotoxicity assessment was performed using a battery of biotests comprising the producer Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata (chronic toxicity biotest), consumer Thamnocephalus platyurus (acute toxicity biotest) and decomposer Tetrahymena thermophila (chronic toxicity biotest). It was found that in small WWTPs, the recommended levels of TN, TP, BOD, COD and TSS were often exceeded. Also, the highest mean toxicity hazard in the ecotoxicological biotests was observed for samples from small WWTPs. No clear dependence was found between any of the studied physicochemical parameters of the water and the ecotoxicity of samples: however, a correlation was observed between growth inhibition of P. subcapitata and TN and NH4+ concentration (r = 0.43 and r = 0.48, respectively). Also, the mortality of T. platyurus was correlated with NH4+(r = 0.72), TN (r = 0.64), BOD (r = 0.52), TSS (r = 0.44) and OSM (r = 0.46). The most sensitive organism in the applied battery of biotests was the alga P. subcapitata (producer), with a 90% toxic response for WWTP samples and 100% for river samples. T. platyurus (consumer) demonstrated a 56% toxic response for WWTP samples and no toxicity (0%) for river samples. In turn, T. thermophila demonstrated a 25% toxic response for WWTP samples and 33% for river samples. The addition of an ecotoxicological evaluation (battery of biotests) to the physicochemical monitoring of treated wastewater and river water delivered new information about the biological impact on organisms related to their different sensitivity. Additionally, the small WWTPs turned out to be the highest source of hazard.

Formulation and optimization of radiation-curable nonisocyanate polyurethane wood coatings by mixture experimental design

Radiation-curable urethane acrylates have been extensively used and successfully implemented in industrial wood coatings thanks to their capability to provide a balance of mechanical and chemical properties. However, isocyanates, one of the main building blocks in the conventional urethane acrylates, pose toxicity and health hazards both in the manufacturing and application, and therefore, are targeted for restricted use and limited occupational exposure in the impending environmental regulations. In this regard, this study presents the development of urethane acrylate oligomers using nonisocyanate approaches and their application in industrial wood coatings. Two acrylic-functional nonisocyanate polyurethane oligomers (NIPU-ACs), NIPU-AC-2 with longer urethane chains and higher flexibility and NIPU-AC-1 with shorter urethane chains, were synthesized as main building blocks of radiation-curable wood coatings. Next, a series of 20 wood coating systems were formulated using a D-optimal mixture experimental design methodology to find the optimized quaternary mixtures composed of the two synthetic NIPU-ACs, and trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA) and dipropylene glycol diacrylate (DPGDA) as reactive diluents. The results of the study revealed that at a constant 5 wt% of TMPTA, formulations rich in NIPU-AC-2 showed higher impact resistance, scratch resistance, and pull-off adhesion, which was attributed to the flexible structure of this oligomer. On the other hand, coatings including higher contents of NIPU-AC-1, which induces higher crosslink density (XLD) to the system, demonstrated higher Tg and pendulum hardness. Evaluation of the optimal coatings not only validated the predictability of models, but also determined that the coatings have promising stain and abrasion resistance, and good thermal stability. The results show that NIPU-ACs developed in this study have excellent potential as an alternative to conventional urethane acrylates in the development of low-VOC and sustainable industrial wood coatings.

Sustainable dyeing and functionalization of jute fabric with a Chinese sumac gall-derived gallotannin using eco-friendly mordanting agents

Natural fiber-made apparel dyed with natural dyes is drawing consumer attention because of the possible toxic and health hazards associated with fabric dyed with synthetic dyes. However, many textile products dyed with natural dyes available in the market could pose a health risk because of the use of toxic heavy metals as a dye-complexing agent. In this work, jute fabrics were dyed and multi-functionalized with gallotannin (GT), using ferrous sulfate (FeSO4), calcium chloride (CaCl2), and aluminum chloride (AlCl3) as a non-toxic mordanting agent. The shades produced and other physicochemical properties of the GT-dyed jute fabrics were compared with the jute fabric treated with GT using copper sulfate (CuSO4), a common mordanting agent. It was found that the GT with various mordanting agents produced navy blue and brown shades with tonal changes along with quite good colorfastness to washing. The concentration of GT and mordanting agents, types of mordanting agents, and the treatment pH affected the shade produced and physicochemical properties of the treated fabrics. The surface resistivity was reduced from 235 × 1010 Ω/sq for the control to 6.7 × 1010 Ω/sq for the AlCl3 mordanting agent, slightly higher than the surface resistivity exhibited by the CuSO4 mordant. The fabric treated with GT using FeSO4 and CaCl2 mordanting agents showed excellent antioxidant activity, even at the lowest GT dosage applied. Similarly, FeSO4 and CaCl2 also showed excellent UV radiation absorption capability. The developed treatment can be used in the textile industry to make cellulosic textiles multifunctional without using any toxic dyes and chemicals.

The Contribution of Groundwater to the Salinization of Reservoir-Based Irrigation Systems

This study evaluates the cause of salinization in an irrigation scheme of 100 ha supplied from a reservoir. The scheme is located in Gumselasa catchment (28 km2), Tigray region, northern Ethiopia. The catchment is underlain by limestone–shale–marl intercalations with dolerite intrusion and some recent sediments. Water balance computation, hydrochemical analyses and irrigation water quality analyses methods were used in this investigation. Surface waters (river and reservoir) and groundwater samples were collected and analyzed. The water table in the irrigated land is ranging 0.2–2 m below the ground level. The majority of groundwater in the effective watershed area and the river and dam waters are fresh and alkaline whereas in the command area the groundwater is dominantly brackish and alkaline. The main hydrochemical facies in the groundwater in the effective watershed area are Ca-Na-SO4-HCO3, Ca-Na- HCO3-SO4, and Ca-Na-Mg-SO4-HCO3. The river and dam waters are Mg-Na-HCO3-SO4 and HCO3-SO4-Cl types, respectively. In the command area the main hydrochemical facies in the groundwater are Ca-Na-HCO3-SO4 and Ca-Na-Mg-SO4-HCO3. Irrigation water quality analyses revealed that salinity and toxicity hazards increase from the effective watershed to the irrigated land following the direction of the water flow. The results also showed that the analyzed waters for irrigation purpose had no sodicity hazard. The major composition controlling mechanisms in the groundwater chemistry was identified as the dissolution of carbonate minerals, silicate weathering, and cation exchange. One of the impacts of the construction of the dam in the hydrologic environment of the catchment is on its groundwater potential. The dam is indirectly recharging the aquifers and enhances the groundwater potential of the area. This increment of availability of groundwater enhanced dissolution of carbonate minerals (calcite, dolomite, and gypsum), silicate weathering and cation exchange processes, which are the main causes of salinity in the irrigated land. The rising of the brackish groundwater combined with insufficient leaching contributed to secondary salinization development in the irrigated land. Installation of surface and subsurface drainage systems and planting salt tolerant (salt loving) plants are recommended to minimize the risk of salinization and salt accumulation in the soils of the irrigated land.

Spring poisoning hazards

Poisoning can be seasonal. Potential toxic hazards in the spring include adders, which emerge from hibernation as the weather warms. Adders may not be seen to bite a horse, but envenomation should be considered in a horse with localised limb swelling that spreads up the leg. There are several spring-flowering plants which contain toxic compounds such as cardiogenic glycosides (foxglove, lily of the valley, oleander), protoanemonin (Hellebore) and grayanotoxins (Pieris and Rhododendron). Saplings of sycamore are a spring source of hypoglycin A which causes atypical myopathy in horses. Treating plant poisoning in horses generally involves removing the plant, providing good quality food and giving supportive care. Managing the effects of adder bite is supportive, centring around administration of specific antivenom.

2μm widely tunable thulium-doped fiber laser seed oscillator

2μm band laser can be used in transparent plastic welding, soft tissue laser surgery, LiDAR, toxic hazard gas sensing and medium-and far-infrared parametric oscillation conversion. However, there are still many problems that need to be clarified on how to break through the peak power limit, realize pulse time domain programmable and laser wavelength wide range tuning in the nanosecond thulium fiber system. In this experiment, wide tuning laser at 2μm band was used to realize different laser wavelength, constant seed laser power output, and EOM was used to define laser pulse waveform and pulse frequency.

Natural Occurrence of Mycotoxin-Producing Fusaria in Market-Bought Peruvian Cereals: A Food Safety Threat for Andean Populations.

Consumption of cereals contaminated by mycotoxins poses health risks. For instance, Fumonisins B, mainly produced by Fusarium verticillioides and Fusarium proliferatum, and the type B trichothecene deoxynivalenol, typically produced by Fusarium graminearum, are highly prevalent on cereal grains that are staples of many cultural diets and known to represent a toxic risk hazard. In Peru, corn and other cereals are frequently consumed on a daily basis under various forms, the majority of food grains being sold through traditional markets for direct consumption. Here, we surveyed mycotoxin contents of market-bought grain samples in order to assess the threat these mycotoxins might represent to Peruvian population, with a focus on corn. We found that nearly one sample of Peruvian corn out of six was contaminated with very high levels of Fumonisins, levels mostly ascribed to the presence of F. verticillioides. Extensive profiling of Peruvian corn kernels for fungal contaminants could provide elements to refine the potential risk associated with Fusarium toxins and help define adapted food safety standards.

Structure-based virtual screening, molecular dynamics and binding affinity calculations of some potential phytocompounds against SARS-CoV-2

COVID-19 caused by a positive-sense single stranded RNA virus named as severe acute respiratory syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) triggered the global pandemic. This virus has infected about 10.37 Crores and taken lives of 2.24 Crores people of 213 countries to date. To cope-up this emergency clinical trials are undergoing with some existing drugs like remdesivir, flavipiravir, lopinavir-ritonavir, nafamostat, doxycycline, hydroxy-chloroquine, dexamethasone, etc., despite their severe toxicity and health hazards among diabetics, hypertensive, cardiac patients or normal individuals. The lack of safe and approved treatment for COVID-19 has forced the scientific community to find novel and safe compounds with potential efficacy. This study evaluates a few selective herbal compounds like glucoraphanin, vitexin, niazinin, etc., as a potential inhibitor of the spike protein and 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro) or main protease (Mpro) of SARS-COV-2 through in-silico virtual studies such as molecular docking, target analysis, toxicity prediction and ADME prediction and supported by a Molecular-Dynamic simulation. Selective phytocompounds were docked successfully in the binding site of spike glycoprotein and 3CLpro (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2. In-silico approaches also predict this molecule to have good solubility, pharmacodynamic property and target accuracy through MD simulation and ADME studies. These hit molecules niazinin, vitexin, glucoraphanin also obey Lipinski’s rule along with their stable binding towards target protein of the virus, which makes them suitable for further biochemical and cell-based assays followed by clinical investigations to highlight their potential use in COVID-19 treatment. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

Robinsonecio gerberifolius as a sentinel organism for atmospheric pollution by heavy metals in several sites of Mexico city and its metropolitan area.

Evaluate the effect of heavy metals (HM) on sentinel organisms such as vascular plants represent a model to estimate toxic hazard due to environmental pollution. In the present study, the plant Robinsonecio gerberifolius was used to evaluate the toxic effects of the HM contained in the leaves of plants that were exposed to 4 different sites in Mexico city and its metropolitan area, during the rainy and dry seasons in the period 2017-2019. The comet assay to evaluate genotoxicity revealed an increase with respect to control (p < 0.05), in 2nd and 8th week of exposure, in all 4 study sites and in both seasons, more significant in the rainy period. An increase in the induction of oxidative stress was also observed in the exposed leaves from the 4 study sites when compared with the control; in some cases, the increases were significant (p < 0.05). In general, α- and ß-carotenoids were increased at 8th week of exposure, in all plants exposed in both seasons, while miR398 increased in plants exposed in 2 study sites (p < 0.05). Finally, toxic HM like aluminum, vanadium, and cadmium, increased significantly in the rainy season, while lead increased in the dry season. We conclude that R. gerberifolius can be considered a sentinel plant for evaluating the presence and general toxic effects caused by the presence of toxic HM that have been documented in the atmosphere of Mexico City and its metropolitan area.

The Impact of Water-Related Pollution on Food Systems in Transition: The Case of Northern Vietnam

In Vietnam, agricultural practices such as fertilizer and pesticide use affect the landscape as well as the availability and safety of food. For instance, pesticides and fertilizer end up in surface water used for drinking water, crop irrigation, and in fish tanks. However, the link to actual food consumption and health is complex and information is lacking. This study considers potential water-related exposure to toxic hazards in northern Vietnam food systems, through the consumption of food commodities and of water. Water pollution is operationalized by considering the following two channels: (i) pesticide and nutrient leaching to surface water (share of surface water) and (ii) industrial runoff from facilities located in urban areas (share of urban areas). We explore how potential exposure to toxic hazard is related to food consumption choices. Using a sample of the Vietnam Household Living Standard Survey (VHLSS) for 2014, we estimate how shares of food consumption categories in total food consumption are affected by household and landscape characteristics, the latter also reflecting potential environmental pressures. In districts with higher shares of surface water, the share of fish consumption is higher and the share of meat consumption is lower. From an environmental and health perspective, households in water-rich areas thus may have a higher probability of being exposed to toxic chemicals due to higher fish consumption. In districts with higher shares of urban areas, the shares of meat and cereals in total food consumption value were lower, and the shares of fish and fruit and vegetables were higher. The results indicate that food consumption is affected by landscape characteristics that may also influence the level of exposure to water-related environmental pressures, and that this combined effect may potentially exacerbate food safety and health risks. The actual impact is more complex and should be analyzed with more sophisticated data and methods.

Biological control of Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum, the causal agent of bacterial soft rot in vegetables, in vitro and in vivo tests

BackgroundSeveral chemical bactericides were applied for controlling soft rot bacteria, Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum, which causes the destructive soft rot disease to many economically important vegetables, but because of their toxic hazards on human and environment became limit. The biocontrol was applied to control many plant pathogens. Therefore, this work is aimed to study the antagonistic activity of bacterial agents, i.e. Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus megaterium and Pseudomonas fluorescens, and fugal agents, i.e. Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma viride and Trichoderma virens, to control bacterial soft rot disease under in vitro and in vivo tests.ResultsThe tested treatments could protect the potato tubers against the development of soft rot. T. viride and T. virens were highly effective in reducing soft rot symptoms on inoculated potato tuber slices, when applied at the same time or 2 h before pathogen inoculation, while B. megaterium and T. harzianum were highly effective when applied at the same time or 2 h after pathogen inoculation. In whole potato tubers technique, B.pumilus highly protected the stored potato tuber under artificially infection conditions, than P. fluorescens, T. harzianum, B. subtilis, T. viride, T. virens and B. megaterium, respectively.ConclusionApplication of fungal agents or specify the bacterial species can play an important role in controlling bacterial soft rot disease in vegetables and increase the stored periods of potato tubers under storage conditions without any toxic effects.

Eco-friendly synergistic cross-linking flame-retardant strategy with smoke and melt-dripping suppression for condensation polymers

Conventional methods to improve the flame retardancy of polymeric materials usually involve the use of flame-retardant elements such as Cl, Br and P, however, their use may bring more smoke and toxic gases hazards, and more importantly, cause non-negligible environmental and ecological problems. In this work, we put forward a novel green strategy that eliminates the use of any conventional flame-retardant elements to improve the flame retardancy by incorporating a synergistically cross-linkable structure (named PN) containing phenylacetylene and phenylimide groups. The resulting PN copolymer exhibited an excellent 55% lower smoke release rate and 68% lower heat release rate than the pure polymer, as well as a high LOI value of 32% and UL-94 V-0 rating with excellent anti-dripping performance. TG-DSC, rheological and FTIR results proved the high cross-linking ability of the PN copolymer due to the synergistic cross-linking effect between the “imide-isoimide” rearrangement of phenylimide and the “self-cross-linking” of phenylacetylene. The SEM, Raman and Py-GC/MS results further upheld the condensed phase flame-retardant mechanism. This eco-friendly synergistic cross-linking strategy provided new perspective for the design and synthesis of polymeric materials with excellent flame retardancy, great anti-dripping performance, and low release of heat, smoke, and toxic gas.

Hydrogen Sulfide, an Endogenous Stimulator of Mitochondrial Function in Cancer Cells.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has a long history as toxic gas and environmental hazard; inhibition of cytochrome c oxidase (mitochondrial Complex IV) is viewed as a primary mode of its cytotoxic action. However, studies conducted over the last two decades unveiled multiple biological regulatory roles of H2S as an endogenously produced mammalian gaseous transmitter. Cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE), cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (3-MST) are currently viewed as the principal mammalian H2S-generating enzymes. In contrast to its inhibitory (toxicological) mitochondrial effects, at lower (physiological) concentrations, H2S serves as a stimulator of electron transport in mammalian mitochondria, by acting as an electron donor—with sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase (SQR) being the immediate electron acceptor. The mitochondrial roles of H2S are significant in various cancer cells, many of which exhibit high expression and partial mitochondrial localization of various H2S producing enzymes. In addition to the stimulation of mitochondrial ATP production, the roles of endogenous H2S in cancer cells include the maintenance of mitochondrial organization (protection against mitochondrial fission) and the maintenance of mitochondrial DNA repair (via the stimulation of the assembly of mitochondrial DNA repair complexes). The current article overviews the state-of-the-art knowledge regarding the mitochondrial functions of endogenously produced H2S in cancer cells.

Pesticide Toxicity Hazard of Agriculture: Regional and Commodity Hotspots in Australia.

While the need to reduce the impacts of pesticide use on the environment is increasingly acknowledged, the existing data on the use of agricultural chemicals are hardly adequate to support this goal. This study presents a novel, spatially explicit, national-scale baseline analysis of pesticide toxicity hazard (the potential for chemicals to do harm). The results show an uneven contribution of land uses and growing regions toward the national aggregate toxicity hazard. A hectare of horticultural crops generates on average ten times more aquatic ecotoxicity hazard and five times more human toxicity hazard than a hectare of broadacre crops, but the higher yields and incomes in horticulture mean that both sectors are similar in terms of environmental efficiency. Livestock is the sector with the least contribution to overall hazard, even when the indirect hazard associated with feed is considered. Metrics such as pesticide use (kg/ha) or spray frequency (sprays/ha), commonly reported in highly aggregated forms, are not linearly related to toxicity hazard and are therefore less informative in driving reductions in impact. We propose toxicity hazard as a more suitable indicator for real-world risk than quantity of pesticide used, especially because actual risk can often be difficult to quantify. Our results will help broaden the discussion around pathways toward sustainability in the land-use sector and identify targeted priorities for action.

In silico exploration of bioavailability, druggability, toxicity alerts and biological activity of a large series of fatty acids

This article explores in silico some physicochemical and electronic properties (partition coefficient, solubility, toplogical polar surface area TPSA, softness and polarizability), general Drug-likeness DL and specific druglikeness scores (G protein-coupled receptorsactivity GPCR, ion channel modulation ICM, kinase inhibition activity KI, nuclear receptor ligand activity NLR, Protease Inhibition PI, Enzyme Inhibitor EI drug scores), toxicity alerts (mutagenicity, tumorigenicity, irritation and reproduction) and Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, for a large series of 47 fatty acids containing saturated fatty acids (24 SFA), monounsaturated fatty acids (11 MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (12 PUFA). The results obtained have clarified for each fatty acid its degree of bioavailability, druggability, the toxicity hazard and biological activity for its use therapeutically, cosmetically as well as nutritional product. SFA-1-5 and MUFA-25 met Log P and Nrot criteria, SFA-1-5, MUFA-24 and MUFA-25 met Log S criteria. Moreover, all the studied compounds felt within Mw, HA, HD and TPSA criteria, while only MUFA-25, PUFA-42, PUFA-43 and PUFA-46 had a reasonable DL. On the other hand, except SFA-1-4,7,8,11 and MUFA-27, the remaining fatty acids didn’t present any toxicity alert. Therefore, MUFA-25 is the most favorable according to bioavailability, druggability and the toxicity alerts.

Edaphological and water quality conditions that limit agricultural development in semi-arid zones of Northeastern Mexico.

Salinity is one of the main causes of soil degradation, which reduces the capacity for biomass production. Naturally, saline soil is related to climatic, hydrogeological, and edaphic processes. Evaporite rocks are a potential source of gypsum and anhydrite in climates where annual rainfall does not exceed 400 mm. Like any salt, anhydrite contributes to salinity processes that reduce osmotic potential in plants, giving rise to water stress that reduces turgor in plants. In the Zona Media of San Luis Potosí, soil salinity is not homogeneous but rather varies spatially and is associated with soil genesis, agricultural irrigation water quality, and climate. Water sodicity (% Na), toxicity (pH, B3+ y Cl-), and salinity hazards were evaluated by applying agricultural water quality indices. Low sodicity hazard was found at all sample points; chloride and boron did not pose toxicity hazards, but high sulfate concentrations can lead to toxicity and calcium and magnesium deficiency. The salinity hazard was high, identified using OP, EC, TDS, ES, and PS indices. This condition is related to the region's evaporite soils and semi-arid climate.

Experimental investigation on thermal and toxic gas hazards of typical photovoltaic modules in fire

Considering that distributed photovoltaic systems are increasingly used in commercial buildings and residential areas, the potential safety hazards caused by building fires or photovoltaic system fires are very prominent. Photovoltaic fires have different characteristics from ordinary fires and are more difficult to extinguish immediately. The photovoltaic system itself will become an additional heat load in a fire, and the safety impact of the toxic gas released by it in densely populated areas is also very important.Based on the fire calorimetry method, this paper conducts an experimental study on the thermal hazards and toxicity hazards of typical photovoltaic panels under fire. Under different external heat radiation, several important combustion characteristic parameters of customized photovoltaic samples were investigated, such as, heat release rate, mass loss rate, total heat of combustion, etc. The instantaneous concentration of several key toxic gases was tested, and the risk was quantitatively analyzed through the FED value recommended in ISO13344:2015.