Fullerenes toxicity and electronic properties

Nanotechnology globally represents a new direction within scientific development, where the atomic and electronic properties of molecules are used in a unique fashion to produce and construct new and exotic materials and products. Fullerenes (Bucky balls, C₆₀) constitute a particular group within the field of nanotechnology. Fullerenes find applications in medicine, industrial chemistry and electronics. However, there are several unanswered questions about fullerenes and their toxicological properties. Most toxicological studies on fullerenes evolve around the in vitro and in vivo aspects of pristine C₆₀ along with chemically modified C₆₀ molecules. We reviewed toxicology reports on C₆₀. We bring a critical and challenging evaluation of the electronic and quantum properties of C₆₀ molecules in context with the implications on cellular factors and metabolites. The evaluation shows that the reactivity and quantum chemical properties of C₆₀ can have unexpected effects in the cell, by principally absorbing metabolites, such as OH^? and H⁺ ions and alter its reactivity. We thus challenge the present view of C₆₀ solely based on empirical studies, based on the electronic properties of C₆₀ that vary considerably with their size and reaction path. A further example of this is the absorption of divalent zinc ions, which shows an increase in reactivity of the C₆₀ that presents an important pattern of chemical state, reactivity and toxicological potential. The results evaluate the toxicological potential of C₆₀ from a different angle than conventional, by applying a blend of critical review of the findings on C₆₀ toxicity, their chemical and electronic properties.     

Vector-Borne Diseases, Development & Climate Change

Vector-borne diseases are feared to extend their range in a future where global warming has occurred. There is considerable concern about scourges such as malaria re-invading currently temperate regions and reaching into higher altitudes in Africa. In this paper we examine the various factors thought to determine potential infectivity of malaria, and its actual outbreak in the context of a dynamic integrated assessment model. We quantify: (i) the role of demographics in placing a larger population in harms way; (ii) the role of climate change in increasing the potential geographic range and severity of the risk of infection; and (iii) the role of economic and social development in limiting the occurrence of malaria. We then explore the climate and economic implications of various climate policies in their effectiveness to limit potential infectivity of malaria. In illustration of these issues we present the climate-related and economics-related impacts of unilateral CO₂ control by OECD on incidence of malaria in non-OECD nations. The model presented here, although highly stylized in its representation of socio-economic factors, provides strong evidence of the role of socio-economic factors in determination of malaria incidence. The case study offers insights into unintended adverse consequences of well-meaning climate policies. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A study on chemical properties of groundwater and soil in ophiolitic rocks in Firuzabad, east of Shahrood, Iran: with emphasis to heavy metal contamination

In order to assess the chemical properties of groundwater and soil in ophiolitic zone of Firuzabad, in east of Shahrood, Iran, 10 soil samples with regard to sensitive points (vicinity to mine, ophiolitic rocks, and villages) and 10 groundwater samples including nine samples from springs, and also one sample from a well in a village of the study area were taken. These samples were analyzed in laboratories using inductively coupled plasma method. The soil samples were also evaluated for grain size. The obtained results show that most of heavy and major elements were exceeding the permissible levels in soil and water samples in the study area. On the subject of soil quality, concentrations of elements Cr, Mn, Fe, Ca, Mg, Ca, Ni, and Zn are above permissible levels. Enrichment factor and index of geoaccumulation have been calculated for heavy and major elements of all soil samples. According to the obtained results, it may be argued that soil samples are contaminated in relation to the above-mentioned indices. Comparing the concentrations of elements with results of grain size analysis illustrates that the concentrations of Cr, Ni, Fe, Mg, and Co are positively correlated with sand fraction and the concentrations of Al, P, Mn, and Pb are directly proportional with clay fraction in soil samples. The study on water contamination suggests that concentrations of elements Cr, Ni, and Mg in groundwater samples of the study area are above the permissible levels. Some indices like metal index and heavy metal pollution index show that most of the water samples include heavy metal contamination.     

Antimicrobial-resistant patterns of Escherichia coli and Salmonella strains in the aquatic Lebanese environments

This study is the first to be conducted in Lebanon on the isolation and molecular characterization and the antimicrobial resistance profile of environmental pathogenic bacterial strains. Fifty-seven samples of seawater, sediment, crab, and fresh water were collected during the spring and summer seasons of 2003. The isolation of Escherichia coli and Salmonella using appropriate selective media revealed that 94.7% of the tested samples were contaminated with one or both of the tested bacteria. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was then used to identify the species of both bacteria using various sets of primers. Many pathogenic E. coli isolates were detected by PCR out of which two were identified as O157:H7 E. coli. Similarly, the species of many of the Salmonella isolates was molecularly identified. The confirmed isolates of Salmonella and E. coli were then tested using the disk diffusion method for their susceptibility to four different antimicrobials revealing high rates of antimicrobial resistance.     

A new strategy for determination of hydroxylamine and phenol in water and waste water samples using modified nanosensor

A carbon paste electrode modified with p-chloranil and carbon nanotubes was used for the sensitive and selective voltammetric determination of hydroxylamine (HX) and phenol (PL). The oxidation of HX at the modified electrode was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperommetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The values of the catalytic rate constant (k), and diffusion coefficient (D) for HX were calculated. Square wave voltammetric peaks current of HX and PL increased linearly with their concentrations at the ranges of 0.1–172.0 and 5.0–512.0 μmol L^?1, respectively. The detection limits for HX and PL were 0.08 and 2.0 μmol L^?1, respectively. The separation of the anodic peak potentials of HX and PL reached to 0.65 V, using square wave voltammetry. The proposed sensor was successfully applied for the determination of HX and PL in water and wastewater samples.     

Leaching characteristics of the fine fraction from an excavated landfill: physico-chemical characterization

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Leaching of fine fraction (<10 mm) obtained from landfill mining activities in an Estonian landfill was done. On-site excavation...     

Simultaneous determination of hydroxylamine and phenol using a nanostructure-based electrochemical sensor

The electrochemical oxidation of hydroxylamine on the surface of a carbon paste electrode modified with carbon nanotubes and 2,7-bis(ferrocenyl ethyl)fluoren-9-one is studied. The electrochemical response characteristics of the modified electrode toward hydroxylamine and phenol were investigated. The results showed an efficient catalytic activity of the electrode for the electro-oxidation of hydroxylamine, which leads to lowering its overpotential. The modified electrode exhibits an efficient electron-mediating behavior together with well-separated oxidation peaks for hydroxylamine and phenol. Also, the modified electrode was used for determination of hydroxylamine and phenol in some real samples.