Environmental assessment of 2-mercaptobenzimidazole based on the surface plasmon resonance band of gold nanoparticles

A colorimetric assay method is described for the environmental detection of 2-mercaptobenzimidazole (MBI) using surface plasmon resonance of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Stable and dispersed AuNPs with intensified plasmon resonance were prepared in situ using a simple, rapid, and eco-friendly procedure by applying ascorbic acid as a reducer and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as a stabilizer. The presence of MBI has a strong effect on the plasmon absorbance of AuNPs, which was employed for the detection of MBI. The calibration curve was linear in the range of 1.0?×?10^?6–5.5?×?10^?5 mol/L of MBI; the detection limit was 8.4?×?10^?7 mol/L. The relative standard deviations for eight replicate measurements of 3.0?×?10^?6 and 5?×?10^?5 mol/L MBI were 3.9 and 1.4 %, respectively. The method was successfully applied to the determination of MBI in tap, river, sea, and heat exchanger cooling water samples.     

Epidemiology of tornado destruction in rural northern Bangladesh: risk factors for death and injury

The epidemiology of tornado-related disasters in the developing world is poorly understood. An August 2005 post-tornado cohort study in rural Bangladesh identified elevated levels of death and injury among the elderly (≥ 60 years of age) (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 8.9 (95 per cent confidence interval (CI): 3.9-20.2) and AOR = 1.6 (95 per cent CI: 1.4-1.8), respectively), as compared to 15-24 year-olds, and among those outdoors versus indoors during the tornado (AOR = 10.4 (95 per cent CI: 5.5-19.9) and AOR = 6.6 (95 per cent CI: 5.8-7.5), respectively). Females were 1.24 times (95 per cent CI: 1.15-1.33) more likely to be injured than males. Elevated risk of injury was significantly associated with structural damage to the house and tin construction materials. Seeking treatment was protective against death among the injured, odds ratio = 0.08 (95 per cent CI: 0.03-0.21). Further research is needed to develop injury prevention strategies and to address disparities in risk between age groups and between men and women.     

Do governance indicators interact with technological innovation and income inequality in mitigating CO2 emissions in Belt and Road Initiative countries?

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Environmental degradation is being studied by linking with various factors depending upon the interest of researchers. Our interest is in...