Is using nanosilver mattresses/pillows safe? A review of potential health implications of silver nanoparticles on human health

Human exposure to engineered nanoparticles has become inevitable in today’s extensive commercial use and large-scale production of engineered nanoparticles. Even though several studies have characterised the exposure to nanomaterials during wakeful state (related to occupational exposures and exposures from commercially available particles), very few studies on human exposure during sleep exist. As the study of exposure to all possible nanomaterials during sleep is extensive, this study focuses on exposure to specifically silver nanoparticles which are present in beddings and mattresses. The reasoning behind the use of silver nanoparticles in bedding and related materials, possible routes of entry to various population groups in several sleep positions, exposure characterisation and toxicity potential of such silver nanoparticles are reviewed in this study. The toxicity potential of silver nanoparticles in vivo tests with relation to mammals and in vitro tests on human cells has been tabulated to understand the risks associated during oral, dermal and inhalation exposure to silver nanoparticles. The exposure to humans with regard to dermal absorption and oral intake has been summarised. Although potential inhalation exposure to silver nanoparticles is increasing, only a few studies address the possible toxic effect of inhaled silver particles. Determination of exposure to silver nanoparticles in beddings is a topic that has been less researched, and this review aims to provide background information for future research and help establish a comprehensive risk assessment during sleep in the times of increasing usage of nanoparticles in our daily activities. Despite the current limitations of our understanding, risk assessments must utilise the available data and apply extrapolation procedures in the face of uncertainty, in order to address the needs of regulatory programs. This would enable safe use of the antimicrobial properties of silver nanoparticles without negatively impacting human health. Until then, it would be better to adopt a conservative approach on the usage of silver nanoparticles in daily used commercial items.

     

Fluoride removal and its impact on oral health in Sri Lanka's dry zone: Discussion and recommendation

Fifty percent of the dry zone areas in Sri Lanka have fluoride levels above 1 ppm. This paper discusses the ground conditions and recommends an appropriate range of fluoride in drinking water which can support preventive practices for improving the oral health of children 8-years old and younger. In efforts to address the Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown etiology (CKDU), water treatment to reduce contaminant level in potable water has been implemented. Such treatment would also remove fluoride and has resulted in potable water with various fluoride levels, depending on concentrations in the raw water. While it is important to reduce fluoride levels, it is important to have appropriate residual levels for prevention of dental caries. It needs, however, to be noted fluoride in excess can cause dental fluorosis. In Sri Lanka's dry zone areas increasing prevalence of dental fluorosis with decreasing prevalence of dental caries has been noted. Consumption of tea and powdered milk could increase total intake of fluoride. Fluoridated toothpaste, when used properly, may, however, result in negligible intake of fluoride. Sri Lanka's hot tropical climate which results in substantial intake of fluids reinforces the need to consider reduction in water fluoride. Consideration of local studies and international standards indicate fluoride levels should be in the range of 0.225–0.500 ppm. In the range of 0.225–0.500 ppm, the prevalence of dental fluorosis and caries was only 14% and 8%, respectively, in an endemic district. When fluoride levels are above 0.500 ppm, the issue of dental fluorosis shall need to be addressed. When levels are below 0.225 ppm, oral health care services shall need to be directed at preventing dental caries.     

Ammonia production and kinetic properties of glutamate dehydrogenase in the sipinculid Phascolosoma arcuatum exposed to anoxia

The amounts of total NH ₄ ⁺ detected in the external media in which Phascolosoma arcuatum had been exposed to various periods of anoxia were significantly greater than those in which the worms were exposed to normoxia for a similar period. The increased NH ₄ ⁺ production by P. arcuatum during anoxic exposure was unlikely to be due to an increased catabolism of adenine nucleotides or urea. In contrast, there were significant decreases in the concentrations of several free amino acids in the coelomic plasma and body tissues of individuals during the 48 h of anoxic exposure. The amount of NH ₄ ⁺ produced by the anoxic P. arcuatum could be accounted for by the decreases in the concentrations of aspartate or glycine. Increases in the catabolism of free amino acids (FAA), leading to the increased production of NH ₄ ⁺ , in P. arcuatum during anoxia were supported by the detection of significant changes in the kinetic properties of glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), in the deaminating direction, from worms exposed to anoxia for 48 h. The apparent increase in the affinity of GDH from the anoxic worm to glutamate would bring about a greater deaminating activity at physiological concentrations of ths substrate. P. arcuatum used in these experiments were collected from the mangrove swamp at Mandai, Singapore between 1990 and 1993.     

Rigorous Calculation of Critical Flow Conditions for Pressure Safety Devices

Sizing and verification of pressure relieving systems is an important topic in the design of process plants in order to assure equipments and people protection against malfunctions and hazards. The calculation of the critical flow (choke) condition is analysed with respect to existing standard calculations procedures (API and Omega methods) that implement approximate procedures and may not be extended to temperature/pressure regions near the thermodynamic critical point. These procedures may be replaced by a more rigorous calculation based on the evaluation of the local sonic velocity with equations of state. The method applies to systems composed of pure chemical components as well as to multi-component mixtures existing in the single phase and multi-phase regions. As a consequence of an exact calculation of the critical flow conditions, more accurate values of the discharged flowrate may be obtained. Comparisons with calculations performed using the standard API RP 520 procedure and Omega method are presented.     

亚剂量抗生素诱导抗性基因水平迁移

为探究亚剂量抗生素诱导下编码广谱β-内酰胺酶(extended-spectrum β-lactamase,ESBL)基因的接合转移(conjugation),使用从新加坡主要医院的废水中直接分离的可合成ESBL的铜绿假单胞菌(P.aeruginosa)和大肠杆菌(E.coli)菌株作为ESBL编码质粒的供体,以携带绿色荧光蛋白(green fluorescent protein, GFP)基因的耐氯霉素(chloramphenicol,CHL)大肠杆菌SCC1(E.coli SCC1)作为受体,借助响应面分析,检测并分析了携带有ESBL编码基因的质粒在亚剂量水平的四环素(tetracycline,TC),磺胺甲噁唑(sulfamethoxazole,SMZ)和头孢他啶(ceftazidime,CAZ)单一暴露和共同暴露时,从供体菌株接合传递至受体菌株的特征.结果发现,ESBL编码质粒可在无诱导抗生素胁迫下,以平均0.001 5和0.004 2的频率分别由铜绿假单胞菌和大肠杆菌供体接合转移至受体大肠杆菌SCC1菌株,具有较低的"适应性代价",并在质量浓度低于最小抑菌浓度(minimum inhibitory concentration,MIC)的抗生素暴露下更易在大肠杆菌菌株之间传递.大肠杆菌菌株之间的接合转移显著发生在质量浓度低于0.03 mg·L~(-1)的TC与质量浓度低于0.002 mg·L~(-1)的CAZ单一暴露或共同暴露时,并可被亚MIC的TC显著抑制.铜绿假单胞菌与大肠杆菌间的接合转移可在5倍MIC的TC、CAZ共同暴露时被显著诱导,未检测到亚MIC水平抗生素对其的促进作用.     

Heterogeneity in the relationship between carbon emission performance and urbanization: evidence from China

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change - Global change caused by carbon emissions alone has become a common challenge for all countries. However, current debates about urbanization...     

Separation of selected PAHs by using high performance capillary electrophoresis with modifiers

The effect of varying SDS concentration in a micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatographic system (MECC) is investigated. In addition, the introduction of -cyclodextrin as modifier to the electrophoretic medium, containing SDS and a phosphate-borate buffer, is shown to give satisfactory separation of the seven selected PAHs. The separation efficiency is increased with the addition of -cyclodextrin.     

Air Pollution in Singapore: Its Multielemental Aspect as Measured by Nuclear Analytical Techniques

Aerosol samples were collected in 1994 in Singapore on two occasions: once in June during the normal meteorological conditions and later in October during a long haze period caused by the heavy forest fire in Indonesia. Filtration and impaction collection methods were used simultaneously so that detailed elemental analysis of bulk as well as of different size fractions could be performed. Accelerator based nuclear analytical techniques such as Particle Induced X-Ray Emission (PIXE), Rutherford Backscattering (RBS) and Nuclear Microscopy (NM) were used for analysis. These techniques are fast, truly multielemental and perfectly suited for routine analysis of a large number of aerosol samples. Typically all samples were analysed for the following 24 elements: Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Mn, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Br, Rb, Sr and Pb. Detection limits for bulk analysis were generally below ng/m3 and for single particle analysis absolute detectable mass was approximately 10-17 g. Additionally, trace elements such as Cd, Sn, Sb and Ba whose characteristic X-ray lines were normally "obscured" by the lines of other more abundant elements, were detected when analysing by nuclear microscope in single particle mode.Judging by the average concentrations of lead and sulphur which are good indicators of industrial component of air pollution the situation in Singapore is satisfactory. Pb was typically found in concentrations of 5 to 50 ng/m3 and sulphur in concentrations of 1 to 2 µg/m3. These concentrations are well below limits set by the World Health Organisation (1500 ng/m3 and 40 µg/m3, respectively). On the other hand during the haze period the average concentrations of elements like S, K, Ti, V, Mn, Ni, As and Pb were found to be 3 to 6 times higher than usual. Results are presented and discussed.     

Characterization and removal of odors from refuse material

Odorous gases emitted from refuse wastes were scrubbed through activated carbon columns until odor breakthrough occured. Refuse air samples were collected at the influent and effluent ports of the columns for analysis on a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometric system and for odor determination by dynamic olfactometry. Chromatographic profiles of the gases emitted from refuse material were obtained and volatiles identified included carboxylic acids and some sulphur compounds. Organoleptic tests with a dynamic olfactometer revealed that the odor concentration of refuse air averaged about 50 sou m^–3. The adsorption capacities of four commercial grades of activated carbon for refuse odor were evaluated and compared. Results indicated that chemically impregnated activated carbons that are commonly used for odor control at sewerage facilities were less cost effective than non-chemically impregnated carbons.     

Environmental and biological monitoring of methyl ethyl ketone (MEK)

This study was conducted to evaluate the usefulness of various biological parameters for monitoring of workers exposed to methyl ethyl ketone (MEK). Fifty male workers from a large magnetic videotape factory participated in this study. Personal air samples were collected using 3M organic vapor monitors and analysed for MEK by gas chromatography with flame ionisation detector (FID). 10 mL of urine; blood (1 mL) and exhaled air were also collected at the end of an 8-hour workshift. The headspace GC method was applied for measurement of urinary and blood MEK. MEK in expired air was analysed directly by using a GC/FID.The correlation coefficients (r) between environmental MEK and all other biological parameters measured show significant positive relationships. The r for environmental MEK and urine MEK was 0.84; for blood 0.73 and for breath 0.64. The correlation coefficients between blood and urine was 0.72; blood and breath was 0.88 and urine and breath 0.60. These findings suggest that measurements of unmetabolised MEK in blood, exhaled air and urine can be used for biological monitoring of MEK exposure. Nevertheless, laboratory methodological assessment is in favour of measuring urinary MEK as it is non-invasive and does not have to be analysed immediately after collection.