A systematic review of emerging human coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak: focus on disinfection methods,environmental survival,and control and prevention strategies

Recently, an outbreak of a novel human coronavirus which is referred to as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (COVID-19) by the World Health Organization (WHO) was identified in Wuhan, China. To help combat the pandemic, a systematic review (SR) was performed to collect all available studies concerning inactivation methods, environmental survival, and control and prevention strategies. A comprehensive literature survey yielded 42 eligible studies which included in the SR. The results confirmed that the WHO recommended two alcohol-based hand rub formulations (ethanol 70–95% and 2-propanol 70–100%) had an efficient virucidal activity in less than 60 s by more and equal 4 log₁₀ (≥ 99.99) approximately and could be used for disinfection in public health and health-care facilities. The findings indicated that SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 can survive under different environmental conditions between 4 and 72 h approximately. The results also demonstrate that temperature and relative humidity are important factors in the survival of SARS-CoV-2. The main strategies recommended by the WHO to avoid contracting SARS-CoV-2 are hand washing several times in the day and maintaining social distancing with others. It is important to note that the more studies require addressing, the more possible airborne transmission due to the survival of SARS-CoV-2 in aerosols for 3 h approximately. We hope that the results of the present SR can help researchers, health decision-makers, policy-makers, and people for understanding and taking the proper behavior to control and prevent further spread of SARS-CoV-2.

     

Health risk assessment of occupational exposure to styrene in Neyshabur electronic industries

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Styrene is one of the essential components in making thousands of everyday products. Occupational exposure to styrene causes pulmonary, neurological,...     

Ultra-sensitive quantification of copper in food and water samples by electrochemical adsorptive stripping voltammetry

A new electrochemical adsorptive stripping voltammetry method was developed for the determination of trace amounts of copper in food and water samples. The study of electrochemical behavior of Cu ion indicated that Cu(II) and Schiff base formed a complex in H₃BO₄–NaOH buffer solution (pH?=?7.25). An accumulation potential of ?100 mV (vs Ag/AgCl) was applied while the solution was stirred for 60 s. The response curve was recorded by scanning the potential, and the peak current of ?0.31 V (vs Ag/AgCl) was recorded. The peak current and concentration of copper accorded with linear relationship in the range of 0.04–120 ng mL^?1. The relative standard deviation (for 12 ng mL^?1 of copper) was 1.73 %, and the detection limit was 0.007 ng mL^?1. The possible interference of some common ions was studied. The proposed method was applied to the determination of copper in water, rice, wheat, tea, milk, and tomato with satisfactory results.     

Degradation of sericin (degumming) of Persian silk by ultrasound and enzymes as a cleaner and environmentally friendly process

Degumming is a surface modification process of natural fibers such as silk. In this paper, the feasibility of degumming with ultrasonic, ultrasonic–soap, and ultrasonic–enzyme (alcalase, savinase, and mixtures of these enzymes) processes as cleaner and environmentally friendly surface modification techniques of Persian silk were investigated. The effectiveness of parameters such as sonication time, soap, ultrasound–enzyme, enzyme concentration, degumming time and enzymes mixture on silk degumming were studied. The evaluation of the data was carried out through the measurement of the weight loss, strength, and elongation of the samples. In addition, the enzymatic treatment improved the properties of silk yarn such as strength and elongation. The scanning electron microscope images were obtained for degummed silk samples. The findings of this research support the potential production of new environmentally friendly textile fibers.     

New Biopolymer Nanocomposite of Starch-Graft Polystyrene/Montmorillonite Clay Prepared Through Emulsion Polymerization Method

Starch-g-polystyrene (Starch-g-PS)/Montmorillonite nanocomposites were prepared via free-radical graft copolymerization of styrene and starch in the presence of montmorillonite clay, by emulsion polymerization method using potassium persulfate (KPS) as an initiator/catalyst and sodium dodecylbenzensulfonate (SDBS) as an emulsifier. The nanocomposites with different clay content 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10 weight percent of starch were prepared and the changes in layer-stacked structures of the clay particles in the resulted nanocomposite compounds were examined by using of X-ray diffraction and FT-IR spectroscopy. Finally the thermal degradation behavior and morphology of nanocomposites were studied using thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and SEM, respectively.     

Modeling trihalomethane formation for Jabal Amman water supply in Jordan

A mathematical model that expresses Total trihalomethane (TTHM) concentration in terms of initial chlorine concentration, total organic carbon, bromide ion concentration, contact time, and pH is developed for Zai water treatment plant which supplies water to Jabal Amman. The developed mathematical model is for constant temperature of 20°C. To adjust model calculated TTHM concentrations for temperatures other than 20°C, another mathematical model that expresses TTHM growth rate as function of temperature is also developed. To test the ability of the two developed models in predicting TTHM concentrations throughout water supplies, a sampling program that aimed at measuring TTHM concentrations in addition to the predictors in the two developed mathematical models namely; chlorine concentration, bromide ion concentration, total organic carbon, temperature and pH throughout Jabal Amman water supply was conducted. The two developed mathematical models and WaterCad, which was used to determine water age, were used to predict TTHM concentrations throughout Jabal Amman water supply. Predicted TTHM concentrations were compared to actual TTHM concentrations measured during the sampling program. Results showed that there is good agreement between measured and, calculated TTHM concentrations, which means that the method presented in this paper, can be used to obtain good estimates of TTHM concentrations throughout networks.     

Bioaerosols in the waterpipe cafés: genera,levels, and factors influencing their concentrations

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This study was conducted in order to assess the exposure to bacterial and fungal bioaerosols in the air of waterpipe cafés (AWPCs), in the hose...     

Amelioration of toxicopathological effects of cadmium with silymarin and milk thistle in male Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica)

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Cadmium is an important widely distributed heavy metal in the environment due to its several industrial uses, while milk thistle is an important herb...     

Supporting the risk management process with land information: a case study of Australia

It is frequently argued that, at the parcel level, 1 stakeholders are capable of and well supported in managing their land‐related risks. Yet, evidence from the contemporary Australian context suggests otherwise: numerous large‐scale disaster events have revealed that citizens are ill‐prepared to respond and recover adequately. This paper begins with the premise that information, specifically land information, could better support parcel‐level risk preparation, mitigation, response, and recovery. State land administration organisations in Australia primarily maintain this information and make it accessible. Land information is used regularly across all levels of government to support risk management activities; however, such application has not always occurred at the parcel and citizen level. Via a case study approach, this paper initially explores the land information available in Australia to stakeholders interested in parcel‐level detail, and then goes on to propose how the utilisation of parcel‐level land information could serve to enhance risk management practices.     

Monitoring of organic pollutants in marine environment by semipermeable membrane devices and mussels: accumulation and biochemical responses

This study involves the monitoring of organic pollutants using transplanted mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) as bioindicator organisms and semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) as passive samplers. Mussels and SPMDs were deployed to marinas, shipyards and shipbreaking yards on the coastal area of Turkey and retrieved after 60 days. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and organochlorine pesticide (OCP) compounds were analysed with high-resolution GC-MS. Total PAH concentrations in SPMDs and mussels ranged from 200 to 4740 ng g sampler^?1 and from 7.0 to 1130 ng g^?1 in wet weight (ww). PCB and OCP concentrations in SPMDs changed between 0.04–200 and 4.0–26 ng g sampler^?1, respectively. The highest PCB (190 ng g^?1 ww) and OCP (200 ng g^?1 ww) concentrations in mussels were measured at shipyard stations. A strong correlation was observed between the PAH and PCB concentrations in SPMDs and mussels. Enzyme assays (acetylcholinesterase, ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase, glutathione S-transferase, glutathion reductase and carboxylesterase activities) were performed as biomarkers to reveal the effects of pollution on the mussels. There was no clear relationship found between the enzyme levels and the pollutant concentrations in mussels. Integrated biomarker responses were calculated to interpret the overall effect of pollutants.