Environmental and health risk assessment of Pb,Zn, As and Sb in soccer field soils and sediments from mine tailings: solid speciation and bioaccessibility

Areas polluted by the persistent presence of metal(loid)s induce health problems, especially when recreational activities (on land or water) promote human exposure to the pollutants. This study focuses on one of the most encountered worldwide mining waste, i.e. those from the extraction of Pb–Zn–Ag. The representative Pb–Zn-rich tailing (about 64,100 m³) sampled is located near a soccer field and a famous river for fishing. The scientific interests is relative to: (1) mobility and bioaccessibility of metal(oid)s, (2) human risk assessments and (3) relationship between human risks and solid-bearing phases in the environment. Soccer field soils, tailings and sediments from the nearby river were sampled; moreover, metal(loid) speciation (from BCR experiments) and bioaccessibility were measured and solid speciation performed by X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy in order to highlight metal(loid) dispersion and impact. Results demonstrate that the soccer field is highly contaminated by Pb, Zn, As and Sb due primarily to waste runoff. In terms of risk assessment, Pb and As human bioaccessibility highlights the major health risk (48 and 22.5 % of human bioaccessibility, respectively). Since local populations are regularly in close contact with metal(loid)s, the health risk due to pollutant exposure needs to be reduced through sustainable waste disposal and the rehabilitation of polluted sites.     

Effects of thiobencarb in combinations with molinate and chlorpyrifos on selected soil microbial processes

The impact of pesticides, namely thiobencarb (TBC), molinate (MOL) and chlorpyrifos (CPF), on soil microbial processes was studied in two Australian soils. Substrate induced respiration (SIR), substrate induced nitrification (SIN) and phosphatases and chitinase enzymatic activities were assessed during a 30-day microcosm study. The pesticides were applied to soils at recommended rates either alone, or as binary mixtures with TBC. Soil samples were sampled at 5, 15 and 30 days after pesticide treatments. Substrate induced respiration was only transiently affected by pesticides in both soils. In contrast, the process of indigenous nitrification was affected by the presence of pesticides in both soils, especially when the pesticides were applied as binary mixtures. Substrate induced nitrification increased with pesticides in the Griffith soil (except with MOL+TBC after 5 days) whereas SIN values were non-significantly different to the control on the Coleambally soil. The binary mixtures of pesticides with TBC resulted in a decrease in SIN in both soils, but the effects disappeared within 30 days. The enzymatic activities were not consistently affected by pesticides, and varied with the soil and pesticides studied. This study showed that, when applied at recommended application rates, TBC, MOL, and CPF (individually or as binary mixtures), had little or only transitory effects on the functional endpoints studied. However, further investigations are needed to assess the effect on microbial densities and community structure despite the low disturbance to the functions noted in this work.     

Wintering French Mallard and Teal Are Heavier and in Better Body Condition than 30?Years Ago: Effects of a Changing Environment?

Animal populations are exposed to large-scale anthropogenic impact from e.g. climate change, habitat alteration and supplemental stocking. All of these may affect body condition in wintering dabbling ducks, which in turn may affect an individual’s survival and reproductive success. The aim of this study was to assess whether there have been morphometric changes in Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) and Teal (Anas crecca) over the last 30 years at a major wintering site. Body mass and condition increased from the 1950s–1960s to the 2000s in both species. The increase in body mass amounted to as much as 11.7%, with no corresponding change in body size. Improved body condition was maintained from early to mid-winter, but then converged with historical values for late winter. Our interpretation is that increasingly benign ambient winter conditions permit ducks to maintain better energetic “safety margins” throughout winter, and that converging spring departure values may be related to evolutionary flight energetic optima. The observed changes are consistent with large-scale climate amelioration and local/regional habitat improvement (both anthropogenic).     

Energy content and fecundity of capelin (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Mallotus villosus</Emphasis>) along a 1,500-km latitudinal gradient

Capelin is a planktivorous key fish species in many subarctic ecosystems representing the link between lower trophic levels and apex predators. Little is known, however, of capelin in Greenland waters, but it has been suggested that size and growth increases due to difference in food availability and temperature conditions along a 1,500 km south–north gradient on the west coast. It is presently unknown how the qualitative state of capelin energy content is affected along this gradient. Based on 2007 and 2008 samples, we show that energy content increases with capelin length in both spawning and non-spawning fish and that it varies with latitude in spawning fish along West Greenland (60–71°N). Combining our results on energy content with information on capelin growth along the same latitudinal climate gradient demonstrates that less and lower-quality food is available to capelin predators in the south than in the north.     

Serological screening for cytomegalovirus during pregnancy: A systematic review of clinical practice guidelines and consensus statements

Background

Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) is the most common congenital infection worldwide. cCMV can lead to severe long-term sequelae, including neurological impairment and developmental delay. We performed a systematic review of clinical practice guidelines containing recommendations concerning serological screening for CMV during pregnancy.

Method

We performed a search of MEDLINE, Turning Research into Practice (TRIP) database and the grey literature for clinical practice guidelines or consensus statements published in the English language from Jan 2010 to June 2022. The quality of the included guidelines was assessed using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II instrument. Textual synthesis was used to summarise and compare the recommendations on CMV serological screening in pregnancy.

Results

Eleven guidelines and two consensus statements were included. None recommended universal serological screening for CMV in pregnant women; five recommended screening for high-risk women (those with frequent contact with young children). The overall quality of the guidelines varied; most were medium or low.

Conclusions

Although clinical practice guidelines do not actively recommend routine serological screening in pregnancy, most did not meet standard processes for development and predated the emerging data on valaciclovir as a potential intervention. Existing recommendations are underpinned by limited, low-level evidence, exposing the lack of robust data in this area of practice. Further high-level evidence and methodologically robust guidelines are needed to guide clinical practice in this rapidly changing field.     

Polyethylene microplastic toxicity to the terrestrial snail Cantareus aspersus: size matters

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Plastic has become the most widespread human-made material and small fragments (&lt; 5mm, so called microplastics, MPs) accumulate in all the...     

Cyclodextrin applications in pharmacy,biology, medicine,and environment

Environmental Science and Pollution Research -     

Evaluation of uptake of the cytostatic methotrexate in Elliptio complanata mussels by LC–MS/MS

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Aquatic organisms are continuously exposed to emerging contaminants coming from urban effluents of wastewater treatment plants. The contamination of...