Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a common plasticizer, exhibits environmental persistence and multisystem toxicity. With plastic production continually rising, China’s annual output exceeded 77 million tons in 2024, reflecting a 2.9 % year-on-year increase (Ministry of Industry and Information Technology). This reflects large-scale consumption and increasing environmental pressure. However, its toxic mechanisms on the intestine, a key organ for defense and metabolism, remain poorly understood. This study indicated that DEHP exposure causes damage to zebrafish intestinal tissue, resulting in a reduction in commensal bacteria such as Fusobacterium and Cetobacterium, and enrichment of Allorhizobium–Neorhizobium–Pararhizobium–Rhizobium and Pseudomona. The analysis suggested that the expression of Toll-like receptor pathways, NOD-like receptor signaling pathways, and MAPK signaling pathways related to immunity and metabolism was upregulated. In addition,genes such as tlr4, myd88, nf-κb, and il10 were significantly upregulated. Together, these findings show that DEHP may raise the risk of intestinal immune injury via the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway and dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota. This study contributes to the assessment and control of health risks associated with DEHP contamination in water.
Сернисто-щелочной сток (СЩС), образующийся на нефтегазохимических предприятиях, представляет экологическую проблему для окружающей среды ввиду своего сложного состава, включающего трудноокисляемые органические соединения и токсичные неорганические соединения, что обуславливает потребность в поиске новых эффективных и экологически безопасных решений для его утилизации. В данной работе рассматривается применение озонирования, усиленного добавлением пероксида водорода (процесс «пероксон»), в качестве перспективного метода для глубокой очистки таких сточных вод. В этом исследовании были тщательно определены входные и конечные характеристики реального разбавленного СЩС. Эффективность очистки оценивалась по ключевым параметрам: химическому потреблению кислорода (ХПК) и динамике изменения концентраций сульфид- и сульфат-ионов. Установлено, что применение озонирования в присутствии пероксида водорода приводит к значительному снижению ХПК практически в 4 раза, что указывает на глубокую минерализацию органических веществ. Кроме того, отмечен эффективный перевод токсичных сульфидов в значительно менее опасные сульфат-ионы. Полученные результаты наглядно подтверждены с помощью сравнительного анализа электронных УФ-спектров исходного и обработанного СЩС, демонстрирующих исчезновение основных полос поглощения. Эти данные доказывают высокий потенциал озонирования для устойчивой и эффективной очистки СЩС.
Seyed Saeed Mazloomy Mahmoodabad, Fariba Farhoud, Amir Kebriaei
Introduction: Andropause is a condition that affects men as they age, similar to menopause in women. Unfortunately, there is limited research on this topic in Iran, and many men are unfamiliar with this concept. To address this knowledge gap, a study was conducted to investigate the attitudes and awareness of andropause among men over the age of 40 in Ardakan City.
Methods: This study was conducted on 281 men aged over 40 years from Ardakan city in 2019. The sampling method used was cluster sampling and data were collected through a researcher-developed questionnaire. The collected data was analyzed, using SPSS software version 18 and the statistical methods of variance, Pearson correlation, and regression were used.
Results: Men have a low level of awareness about andropause, and their attitude towards it is negative. The study found that the mean score of participants’ awareness about andropause was significantly impacted by age groups (P <0.05), education level (P <0.05) and occupation (P <0.05). In terms of attitude towards andropause, the mean score was significantly impacted by age groups (P <0.05) and occupation (P <0.05), but not by education level (P >0.05). The Pearson correlation coefficient shows that there is a statistically significant positive relationship between the mean score of awareness and the score of attitude.
Conclusion: The low awareness and negative attitudes towards andropause among men in Ardakan City emphasize the need for more education and awareness on this topic. Providing men with accurate information about the symptoms, causes, and management of andropause is crucial to help them make informed decisions regarding their health. By addressing the knowledge gap and promoting positive attitudes towards andropause, healthcare providers can enhance the overall well-being of men in this age group.
Communities. Classes. Races, Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology
Background: Individuals and their skills in learning and sharing knowledge are regarded as fundamental factors in the competitive success of organizations. Hence, this study aims to investigate the relationship between knowledge management and patient relationship management and the mediating role of knowledge sharing among the staff of Shahid Ayatollah Dastgheib Hospital in Shiraz.
Methods: This study employs a descriptive, cross-sectional, and correlational design. The statistical population included all the staff of Shahid Dastgheib Hospital in Shiraz in 2023, totaling 250 individuals. The sample size was determined to be 155 individuals using Morgan table and was selected through stratified random sampling as the final sample, based on quotas. 1-Knowledge Management Questionnaire and Dixon’s Standardized Knowledge Sharing Questionnaire . Data were analyzed via Pearson correlation coefficient and univariate regression analysis using SPSS-25 software.
Results: The findings indicated a significant relationship between the mean score of knowledge management and the mean score of patient relationship management (P = 0.001). Knowledge management can positively and significantly predict communication with the patient (P=0.001, β=0.276) and knowledge sharing can positively and significantly predict communication with the patient )P= 0/001, β = 0.255).
Conclusion: It appears that enhancing knowledge management, knowledge sharing, and relationships among hospital staff are concepts closely linked to productivity, effectiveness, and performance of personnel and organizations
Communities. Classes. Races, Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology
Zoha Sadeghian, Parvane Rashidpour, Hamidreza Ghasemirad
et al.
Background: Attempting suicide is considered one of the important indicators of the mental health of individuals in society. One of the important issues in suicide is psychiatric disorders and related factors. Given that no comprehensive study was conducted in Yazd province, this study aimed to assess psychiatric disorders in patients with suicide attempts.
Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 344 patients with suicide attempts at Shahid Beheshti Hospital from March 2021 to March 2022. The type of psychiatric illness was diagnosed based on the clinical interview and DSM-5 diagnostic criteria. All information was extracted from medical records entered into SPSS version 22 and analyzed. P < 0.05 was assumed significant.
Results: The average age of the patients was 27.09 ± 11.78 years. Among them, 145 were men (42.2%) and 199 were women (57.8%). The most common psychiatric disorder was Major depressive disorder (MDD) (46.5%). Moreover, the lowest frequency of psychiatric disorders was schizophrenia (1.2%). There was a significant relation between psychiatric disorders and variables, including age, number of suicides, gender, and suicide method (P < 0.05). A significant relation was seen between the severity of diseases and gender (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Among the various types of psychiatric disorders, MDD was more prevalent in individuals who commit suicide. Hence, it was essential to focus more attention on this particular group of patients. Additionally, the use of medication was the most common method of suicide. It should also be noted that the severity of suicide was higher in men.
Communities. Classes. Races, Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology
Pramod Barathe, Kawaljeet Kaur, Sagar Reddy
et al.
The widespread and injudicious usage of antibiotics to contain pathogenic microbial infections, coupled with inadequate treatment of wastes containing non-metabolized antibiotics and their residues is resulting in rising environmental antibiotic concentrations, leading to ‘antibiotic pollution’. Antibiotic pollution is an emerging global challenge as it is proving a major driver for antibiotic- or antimicrobial-resistance (ABR/ AMR) with escalating ramifications worldwide, precipitating a surge in human morbidity. The extensive administration of antibiotics across domains such as human healthcare settings, agriculture, and aquaculture farming endangers the presence of antibiotics in diverse matrices including water, soil, and air. As a result, this dissemination significantly leads to the development of antibiotic resistance in the profuse sectors of the environment further provoking consequential health implications at different trophic levels. Owing to its significance, and to mitigate antibiotic pollution and its subsequential AMR, governmental guidelines and regulations are implemented across the globe to cultivate public awareness as concerted efforts for addressing this global predicament. Given the insufficient attention to the growing antibiotic pollution issues, prompt efforts must be taken to contemplate current circumstances and the rigor of the ongoing research. In this review, we endeavor to elucidate the escalation of antibiotic concentration and antibiotic-driven AMR in water, air, and soil environments with potential public health threats. Further, it focuses on various strategies and interventions to attenuate antibiotic pollution and mitigate its adverse impacts on the healthcare infrastructure, highlighting the success stories, challenges, and future directions.
Edith Guadalupe Padilla Suarez, Antonietta Siciliano, Marisa Spampinato
et al.
Antifungal substances are essential for managing fungal infections in humans, animals, and plants, and their usage has significantly increased due to the global rise in fungal infections. However, the extensive application of antifungal agents in pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and agriculture has led to their widespread environmental dissemination through various pathways, such as excretion, improper disposal, and agricultural runoff. Despite advances in wastewater treatment, many antifungal compounds persist in the environment, affecting non-target organisms and contributing to resistance development. This study investigates the environmental impact of two novel antifungal agents, VT-1161 and T-2307, recently introduced as alternatives for treating resistant <i>Candida</i> spp. We assessed their ecotoxicity and mutagenicity using multiple bioassays: immobilization of <i>Daphnia magna</i>, growth inhibition of <i>Raphidocelis subcapitata</i>, luminescence inhibition of <i>Aliivibrio fischeri</i>, and mutagenicity on <i>Salmonella typhimurium</i> strain TA100. Results indicate that both VT-1161 and T-2307 exhibit lower toxicity compared to existing antifungal compounds, with effective concentrations (EC<sub>50</sub>) causing 50% response ranging from 14.34 to 27.92 mg L<sup>−1</sup>. Furthermore, both agents were classified as less hazardous based on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals. Despite these favorable results, further research is needed to understand their environmental behavior, interactions, and potential resistance development among non-target species. Our findings highlight the importance of comprehensive environmental risk assessments to ensure the sustainable use of new antifungal agents.
Sutanu Karmakar, Kundan Kumar, T.J. Abraham
et al.
The study assessed the efficiency of in-vitro oxytetracycline (OTC) exposure on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) development in aquatic bacteria. Aeromonas hydrophila ATCC 49140 and Edwardsiella tarda ATCC 15947 were serially passaged to OTC for short and long durations. Short duration OTC exposure (30 min) at 0, 0.097 (0.25× Minimum Inhibitory Concentration: MIC), 0.195 (0.5× MIC) and 0.39 µg mL−1 (1× MIC) elicited high mutation rate in A. hydrophila (10−4) and E. tarda (10−2). Serial passage exposure to inhibitory concentration of OTC (0.39 µg mL−1) reduced the zone of inhibition of nitrofurantoin (NIT) for A. hydrophila and of tetracycline, NIT and gentamicin for E. tarda to a clinically significant level. The upsurge in MICs of OTC was 4-folds (1.56 µg mL−1) and 8-folds (3.12 µg mL−1) in A. hydrophila and E. tarda, respectively during serial passage exposure to 0.097, 0.195 and 0.39 µg mL−1 OTC. OTC exposure also increased the MICs of biocide triclosan (TCS) >4-folds (>100 µg mL−1) in A. hydrophila without any concentration-dependent pattern. This study shows that environmental OTC levels can drive bacterial mutation and AMR, potentially leading to cross-resistance to biocides like TCS. Reducing OTC use and improving disposal could help limit AMR spread through better antimicrobial management.
A significant class of water pollutants emerging as a threat to human and aquaticpopulations is Per-and-polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The primary concern linked to PFAS is that they exhibit bioaccumulation potential as their perfluorocarbon moieties do not break down or do so very slowly under natural conditions, which is why PFAS has often been termed “forever chemicals.” These chemicals are disposed off in aquatic bodies via improper disposal methods, and because PFAS are persistent, they accumulate or concentrate in the water environment. Subsequently, these chemicals hamper the aquatic population and further enter the human food chain via direct consumption of affected aquatic species and drinking water. In this study, a mathematical model has been developed to understand the alarming consequences of PFAS on human and aquatic populations and the various challenges being faced due to inadequate treatment and management of these chemicals. The model has been analyzed for stability at the equilibrium points. Numerical simulations have also been carried out to support the analytical findings. The analysis demonstrates that rising PFAS contamination is extremely hazardous to both aquatic and human populations and immediate control methods need to be devised to restrain their increasing levels in water.
With growing desire to destroy per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) now known to be detrimental to human health, a sound understanding of fluorocarbon combustion chemistry is important to efficient thermal destruction within incinerators. While most fluorocarbon combustion models and the sets of reactions contained within them were originally developed for the high temperatures encountered in flame suppression applications, they have often been used to assess PFAS destruction in incinerators, which emphasize a lower range of temperatures. We present results that demonstrate that low-temperature fluorocarbon oxidation pathways—not yet known to play a role in fluorocarbon combustion—impact key incinerator performance metrics, including: PFAS surrogate mole fractions, products of incomplete destruction, and waste destruction efficiencies. The results further point to the utility of NO as a potential additive. The present results show the influence of these pathways for CF3O2, for which some data are available, but analogous pathways would also occur for other fluoroalkylperoxy radicals, for which little is known. The results demonstrate the need for future work to identify and characterize low-temperature pathways more generally, consider such pathways in kinetic model development, and experimentally probe intermediate temperature conditions to better understand, design, and control thermal destruction technologies for improved PFAS management.
Vicky Kumar, Shamsul Rahman Mohamed Kutty, Siti Nooriza Abd Razak
et al.
Globally, large quantities of oily sludge are produced in petroleum refineries as wastes from petroleum refining processes. Petroleum refinery oily sludge (PROS) is a major by-product of the processes and a major contributor to pollution in the oil and gas industry. In this study, Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used for optimising and modelling experimental work. Thermally treated PROS replaced fly ash (FA) at 5–20 % in geopolymer mortar mixes at a fixed combination of sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The visual observations and effects of PROS on the density and compressive strength of PROS geopolymer mortar (PGM) were studied. PGM with 10 % replacement of PROS had the maximum compressive strength of 38.17 MPa after 28 days. P-values obtained from the quadratic models developed for the synergistic effect of FA-PROS on density and compressive strength were less than 0.005. Optimisation of the synergistic effect of FA-PROS binder produced an optimal combination of both materials for maximum compressive strength and density of 2200 kg/m3 with desirability factor of 0.981. This investigation shows that replacing PROS with FA in geopolymer mortar can result in a new supply chain for greener binder materials in geopolymer mortar.
Nastaran Ahmadi, Parvaneh Rashidpour, Mohammadreza Mohammadi
et al.
Background: Personality disorder is a type of mental disorder in which a rigid and unhealthy pattern of thinking, functioning, and behaving may be seen. A person with a personality disorder has trouble perceiving and relating to situations and people. Limited research has been done on the prevalence of personality disorders in Iran. This study aims at investigating the prevalence of personality disorders among males and females between the ages 15 and 65 in Yazd, Iran.
Methods: The dataset for this cross-sectional study was extracted from a dataset of a national survey conducted on personality disorders of Iranians. The contents relevant to Yazd City were included here with a sample of 1827 people. Among the participants, 852 males and 975 females answered the personality disorders questionnaire (MILON).
Results: Findings indicated that except histrionic and narcissistic patterns, the high rate of the rest of patterns was greater among females, which indicated that in most cases females significantly suffered higher clinical-related personality disorders. Moreover, personality disorders were more prevalent among females (29.8) compared to males (24.3).
Conclusion: This area requires extensive investigation. More evidence is needed regarding the differential impact of personality disorders regarding men and women in other areas of Iran.
Communities. Classes. Races, Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology
Ibrahim Abusallout, Chase Holton, Junli Wang
et al.
While it is thought that some per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may volatilize from aqueous solutions, experimentally measured Henry’s Law constants (kH, synonymous with air : water partition coefficient) are scarce. This leads to a lack of understanding of the partitioning of PFAS and an inability to predict concentrations above contaminated groundwater (e.g., vapor intrusion). We measured kH for 27 PFAS via headspace analysis and manipulations of the gas to liquid phase ratio. Fifteen PFAS produced mass spectrometry signals suitable for kH measurements. At 25 °C the experimentally measured dimensionless kH were: 0.31 – 2.82 for four fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs), 0.09 – 0.18 for three fluorotelomer sulfonates (FTSs), 0.30 – 1.01 for three iodinated PFAS, 0.43 – 0.92 for two sulfonamides, 3.86 for 6:2 fluorotelomer olefin, 0.69 for 8:2 fluorotelomer carboxylic acid, and 0.32 for 8:2 fluorotelomer acrylate. Longer fluoroalkyl chain length resulted in increased kH for FTOHs and FTSs, the only two groups in which chain length was studied. Perfluorinated sulfonates and carboxylates were generally not volatile enough to be measured, even at pH as low as 1, although fluorotelomers of both functional groups were measurably volatile. Temperature effects were well described by the van’t Hoff equation. kH was not significantly different in various environmentally relevant matrices demonstrating the broad applicability of the produced constants.
Jamie Leonard, Hatice Ceylan Koydemir, Vera S. Koutnik
et al.
Developing methods to quickly detect microplastics is critical to assessing the extent of microplastic contamination in the environment. However, current methods to quantify microplastics from environmental samples can take several hours to days and often require access to expensive specialized microscopy instruments. Herein we report a smartphone-based method to rapidly quantify microplastics. The method involves isolating microplastics from soil or water by density separation and vacuum filtration, staining the isolated plastic polymers with Nile Red, and quantifying the strained microplastics as small as 10 µm using a smartphone-based fluorescence microscope with an opti-mechanical attachment. The smartphone-enabled quantification using an algorithm eliminates time-consuming digestion steps and manual counting, thereby enabling quantification of microplastic concentration in environmental samples within 1 h. The method successfully detected a wide range of plastic polymers, but a dilution step was often needed if the samples contained high concentrations of particulates or non-plastic debris to minimize optical overlap or blocking. This method could serve as an initial assessment tool to rapidly quantify microplastics in environments in remote places with limited access to expensive resources and open the possibility to increase the frequency of monitoring microplastic concentration in engineered systems such as wastewater treatment plants.
Plastic waste is the biggest global problem in present times due to its constant bioaccumulation in the environment. During the last year, 367 Mt of plastics were produced in the world, of which 28.6 Mt correspond to polyurethane waste. Polyurethanes can be found in products such as adhesives, preservatives, and foams, and are often difficult to recycle. The fragmentation of plastic waste in the environment generates microplastics causing a long-term effect on our ecosystem. In search of its solution via bioremediation using enzymes, in our present study cutinase enzyme has been chosen, as it appears to be a novel candidate due to the wide variety of substrates it hydrolyzes and its presence in different microorganisms. According to physiochemical characteristics, it was found that microbial cutinase enzymes are majorly made up of aliphatic amino acids. A higher aliphatic index (more than 80) indicates the great thermostability of the enzyme. Moreover, the enzyme is found to be hydrophilic and structurally stable. The negative GRAVY value of the enzyme confirmed its stable interaction with water. It was also observed that all chosen protein models had an average of 91.10 % amino acids in the favorable regions of the Ramachandran plot. The studied microbial cutinase enzymes from both fungi Humicola insolens and actinobacterium Thermobifida fusca successfully coupled with the polyurethane resin monomers. The main interactions were found in the catalytic triad with bonds close to the urethane bonds of the ligand, in addition to having an average binding energy of − 6 kJ/mol. The interaction between the cutinases with the PUR resin as a ligand was found to be evident from our study with stable binding energies, which makes microbial cutinases potential enzymes for polyurethane waste bioremediation processes.
Aim: This article attempts to bring closer the issues related to the emission of harmful substances to the environment. The example of two fires that
occurred in Poland in 2018 was used – in the former “Boruta” plant in Zgierz and in a landfill in Trzebinia. By presenting the results of measurements and
tests available in this field, attention was drawn to the need to improve the methods of detecting and measuring hazardous substances, in particular
with regard to their dispersion in the atmosphere.
Introduction: The threat to the environment resulting from improper management, including waste disposal, remains a serious challenge for many societies,
also for the EU countries, which are among the richest countries in the world. Increased waste generation, high costs related to waste management, i.e.
landfilling and recycling, generate the risk of deliberately causing fires in landfills as a method of free disposal. It is cost-free only from the point of view
of the dishonest owner of this waste, because the direct costs of long-term rescue and firefighting activities and the effects of the emission of hazardous
substances to the environment are borne by the society. In addition, in the last of the aspects mentioned above, the price for this method of disposal is
paid primarily by people living in the vicinity of the facilities in question. But not only. In the event of the penetration of the substances mentioned above
into the soil and watercourses via e.g. firefighting waters, their impact – also delayed in time – may also affect many other people, e.g. consumers of
agricultural products manufactured in the contaminated areas.
Methodology: In the article, mainly theoretical research methods were used, including the analysis of literature. Also research reports of specialized
research units involved in extinguishing the mentioned fires were analysed. The legal instruments were reviewed against the background of economic
conditions and their impact on the efficiency of waste management in Poland was determined.
Conclusions: Despite measurement imperfections mentioned above, the presence of the compounds such as toluene, benzene, ethylbenzene, styrene,
methylstyrene, sulfur dioxide and o-xylene, which are characteristic substances released during the combustion of plastics, was found in the fire areas.
The analysis of surface water samples showed exceeding the standard levels of metals such as copper, aluminum and antimony, as well as petroleum
substances such as anthracene, fluoranthene, benzo (b) fluoranthene, benzo (k) fluoranthene, benzo (g, h, i) fluoranthene, petroleum hydrocarbons and
volatile phenols. Moreover, elevated values of heavy metals were found in the soil. The above data fully justify the formulation of a thesis on the need to
undertake increased, systemic actions aimed at reducing the number and size of fires in landfills. The description of some activities in the field of fire
protection of the considered facilities undertaken in Poland will also constitute one of the issues of this article.
Keywords: hazardous waste materials, environmental hazard, waste management, uncontrolled fires, legal regulations in waste management
Type of article: review article
Abhinandan Barua, Arunodaya Gautam, Soumalya Mukherjee
et al.
Microplastics (MPs) are established contaminants of coastal ecosystem. Present investigation is aimed to assess comparative toxicity of polystyrene microplastic (PS-MP) and expanded polystyrene microplastic (EPS-MP) in the coelomocytes of Astropecten indicus, a common seastar of Digha coast of Bay of Bengal, India. Coastal water of Digha, a tourist spot of attraction, bears the ecotoxicological risk of contamination by various agents including expanded and nonexpanded microplastics of industrial origin. Coelomocytes of seastar perform multiple physiological functions including pathogen engulfment, cytotoxicity and respiratory gas exchange and considered as immunoeffector cells in echinoderms. We report an adverse shift in total count, phagocytic response, cytotoxicity and oxidative potential of the coelomocytes of A. indicus under the exposures of 0.5 and 1 mg L−1 PS-MP and EPS-MP for 7 and 14 d. Experimental data suggested a higher level of cytotoxicity of EPS-MP in coelomocytes in comparison to that of PS-MP. Seastar is considered as a keystone species, which plays an important role in maintaining the functional homeostasis of coastal ecosystem. Unrestricted contamination of coastal water by MPs may lead to a persistent immunophysiological stress in seastar. Experimental endpoints may be considered as effective monitoring tool to assess ecotoxicity of MPs in seastar and alike organisms sharing the same habitat.
Fluoride contamination in drinking water is a global issue. Frequent over-exposure to fluoride causes several health problems such as fluorosis, neurological, thyroid, osteoporosis, etc. The guideline values prescribed by the WHO and other nationals for fluoride in drinking water are reasonable but mostly relevant to fluorosis. However, these guideline values cannot be satisfied in some regions due to economic and financial shortcomings. Several fluorosis management techniques were suggested to address excess fluoride in drinking water, but each have specific drawbacks. Defluoridation techniques like the Nalgonda technique, reverse osmosis (RO), and adsorption using activated alumina have found to be promising to reduce fluoride concentration within the prescribed limits, and RO water is most widely used for drinking in fluorosis affected regions. However, these techniques are still associated with certain drawbacks, and prior research on this theme has focused on one dimension of removing excess fluoride from water. Hence, it is essential to understand the basic problems associated with fluoride contamination, such as sources of fluoride exposure, adverse health effects and defluoridation techniques feasibility. Furthermore, perception of the effect of co-existing ions with fluoride in drinking water is crucial in deciding fluoride toxicity level and developing efficient strategies for fluorosis mitigation.