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Environmental Microbiology Sep 2022In arid ecosystems, where the soil is directly exposed to the action of the wind due to sparse vegetation, dust aerosolization is a consequence of soil degradation and...
In arid ecosystems, where the soil is directly exposed to the action of the wind due to sparse vegetation, dust aerosolization is a consequence of soil degradation and concomitantly, a major vector of microbial dispersal. Disturbances such as livestock grazing or fire can exacerbate wind erosion and dust production. Here, we sampled surface soils in 29 locations across an arid landscape in southwestern USA and characterized their prokaryotic and fungal communities. At four of these locations, we also sampled potential fugitive dust. By comparing the composition of soil and dust samples, we determined the role of dust dispersal in structuring the biogeography of soil microorganisms across the landscape. For Bacteria/Archaea, we found dust associated taxa to have on average, higher regional occupancies compared to soil associated taxa. Complementarily, we found dust samples to harbour a higher amount of widely distributed taxa compared to soil samples. Overall, our study shows how dust dispersal plays a role in the spatial distribution of soil Bacteria/Archaea, but not soil Fungi, and might inform indicators of soil health and stability in arid ecosystems.
Topics: Archaea; Bacteria; Dust; Ecosystem; Soil; Soil Microbiology
PubMed: 35384241
DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15998 -
Environmental Science and Pollution... Mar 2023Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and hexabromocyclododecane isomers (HBCDs) are widely detected in indoor environments, but the research on the accumulation, contamination,...
Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and hexabromocyclododecane isomers (HBCDs) are widely detected in indoor environments, but the research on the accumulation, contamination, and human exposure of TBBPA and HBCDs in electronic products dust is still limited. It is unclear whether electronic products might pose human health risk via dust ingestion and dermal absorption. In this study, the levels and distributions of TBBPA and HBCDs were investigated in the personal computer (PC) interior dust and PC surface (upper and bottom) wipes. The median concentrations of TBBPA in PC interior dust, upper, and bottom surface wipes were 168.1 ng/g, 13.2 ng/m, and 15.2 ng/m, respectively. These levels were generally higher than those of HBCDs, which were 95.2 ng/g, 11.7 ng/m, and 12.3 ng/m, respectively. No significant correlations were found among the PC upper and bottom surface wipes, and interior dust, indicating different sources of TBBPA and HBCDs in PC interior and surface dust. The TBBPA and HBCDs in the PC interior dust were mainly released from inner PC materials, while the sources of target compounds on the surface wipes were likely from external environments. The exposure values of two occupational populations (including PC owners and PC repair workers) to TBBPA and HBCDs were measured by PC interior dust and upper surface wipes. The results imply dust ingestion (including hand-to-mouth uptake) is the main contributor of the exposure route to TBBPA and HBCDs for both PC owners and repair workers. Compared to PC owners, PC repair workers showed the greater risk in exposure assessment, which should be paid more attention.
Topics: Humans; Environmental Monitoring; Dust; Flame Retardants; Hydrocarbons, Brominated; Microcomputers
PubMed: 36692723
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-25497-5 -
Environmental Science & Technology May 2022Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) were analyzed in outdoor ( = 101) and indoor dust ( = 43, 38 paired with outdoors) samples across mainland China. From 2013...
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) were analyzed in outdoor ( = 101) and indoor dust ( = 43, 38 paired with outdoors) samples across mainland China. From 2013 to 2017, the median concentration of ∑PFASs in outdoor dust tripled from 63 to 164 ng/g with an elevated contribution of trifluoroacetic acid and 6:2 fluorotelomer alcohol. In 2017, the indoor dust levels of ∑PFASs were in the range 185-913 ng/g, which were generally higher than the outdoor dust levels (105-321 ng/g). Emerging PFASs were found at high median levels of 5.7-97 ng/g in both indoor and outdoor dust samples. As first revealed by the total oxidized precursors assay, unknown perfluoroalkyl acid (PFAA)-precursors contributed 37-67 mol % to the PFAS profiles in indoor dust samples. A great proportion of C8 PFAA-precursors were precursors for perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, while C6 and C4 PFAA-precursors were mostly fluorotelomer based. Furthermore, daily perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) equivalent intakes of PFAAs (C4-C12) mixtures via indoor dust were first estimated at 1.3-1.5 ng/kg b.w./d for toddlers at high scenarios, which exceeds the derived daily threshold of 0.63 ng/kg b.w./d. from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). On this basis, an underestimation of 56%-69% likely remains without considering potential risks due to the biotransformation of unknown PFAA-precursors.
Topics: China; Dust; Environmental Monitoring; Fluorocarbons; Humans
PubMed: 33769795
DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c08242 -
Environment International Dec 2019In this study, the occurrence of 8 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), 5 alternative flame retardants (AFRs), and 7 organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) was...
In this study, the occurrence of 8 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), 5 alternative flame retardants (AFRs), and 7 organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) was determined in 50 pairs of human fingernail and indoor dust samples. The concentrations in fingernail were 9.79-242 ng/g, 17.7-926 ng/g, and 58.0-590 ng/g for PBDEs, AFRs, and OPFRs. Male fingernail showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher ΣPBDE concentrations than female fingernails, while no significant gender differences were observed for AFRs and OPFRs. Lower ratios of BDE209 to ΣPBDE and DBDPE to ΣAFRs were found in fingernails than in dust. Due to their relatively rapid in vivo debromination, BDE 209 and DBDPE in fingernails were most likely from external sources rather than internal exposure (such as through blood circulation). Similar composition profiles between fingernail and dust were observed for PBDEs (excluding BDE209), AFRs (excluding DBDPE), and OPFRs, indicating that indoor dust may be a significant source for these FRs in human fingernails. Significant correlations between fingernail and dust were observed for BDE 47 (p < 0.01; r = 0.50), TBPH (p < 0.01; r = 0.37) and TBOEP (p < 0.01; r = 0.53). Results in this study provided information about contamination levels and exposure sources of FRs, which is important for long-term biomonitoring and health risk assessment of FRs.
Topics: Air Pollution, Indoor; Dust; Female; Flame Retardants; Humans; Male; Nails
PubMed: 31639601
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.105227 -
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Nov 2023Natural mineral dust episodes elevate particle concentrations and eventually decrease air quality. Air pollutant emissions from aircraft, airport ground operations, and...
Natural mineral dust episodes elevate particle concentrations and eventually decrease air quality. Air pollutant emissions from aircraft, airport ground operations, and long-range dust transport are producing problems for the aviation sector. Dust transport from the Sahara Desert, one of the primary dust sources globally, significantly affects the eastern Mediterranean basin, including Türkiye. This study investigates the effect of long-range dust transport on particulate matter (PM) concentrations at Turkish airports. Three different approaches were used to analyse dust episodes in the study area. Firstly, routine reports of meteorological conditions at the airports were investigated. For this purpose, airport routine meteorological reports (Metar) and aviation-selected special weather report (Speci) codes, recorded at 11 airports from 2012 to 2021, were used to determine the dust episode days. Secondly, the hourly PM measurement dataset was analyzed from the closest air quality monitoring stations to the airports. Finally, regional atmospheric model results and backward-trajectory analysis were used to validate the dust episodes and determine the dust origin. Results showed that 163 dust episodes occurred during the study period, 17% from North Africa and 12% from the Mediterranean region.
Topics: Airports; Environmental Monitoring; Air Pollutants; Particulate Matter; Air Pollution; Dust
PubMed: 38012423
DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-12135-3 -
The Science of the Total Environment Sep 2022Airborne dust represents a hazard to the environment and human health. The outflow of air masses carrying dust from northern Africa, the world's largest active dust...
Airborne dust represents a hazard to the environment and human health. The outflow of air masses carrying dust from northern Africa, the world's largest active dust source, to the North Atlantic and Mediterranean regions is modulated by atmospheric conditions. However, how global warming-driven changes on atmospheric circulation have influenced North African air outflow in the recent past is not well understood. Here, we explore the Saharan air outflow from northwestern Africa over the 1980 to 2020 period. We find a decrease in the transport to the Atlantic Ocean and the Iberian Peninsula of -0.29 ± 0.16% dec and -0.66 ± 0.18% dec, respectively, and an increasing trend to the Mediterranean Sea (0.24 ± 0.18% dec) and Europe (0.60 ± 0.18% dec). The results indicate that the strengthening of the Atlantic high pressure system and the Saharan thermal low, both associated with the narrowing of the Intertropical Convergence Zone and the Hadley Cell expansion under global warming, could be favoring the Saharan outflow to the Mediterranean Sea and Europe in detriment of transport to the Atlantic Ocean. The results also show that present-day Saharan air arrives at these regions at higher altitudes and in shorter timescales than decades ago. This is associated to the increase in surface heating conditions in the Sahara, 0.41 ± 0.02 °C dec, that can inject air into windier upper atmospheric levels, thereby allowing higher and faster air transport. Our results suggest a change in the Saharan air outflow likely associated with global warming and with potentially significant implications for the temporal and spatial patterns of North African dust export.
Topics: Africa, Northern; Climate; Dust; Humans; Mediterranean Region; Wind
PubMed: 35643146
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156268 -
Journal of Hazardous Materials Jan 2021Though ingestion and inhalation of dust have been suggested as important exposure routes contributing chlorinated paraffins (CPs) build-up in humans, the...
Evaluating oral and inhalation bioaccessibility of indoor dust-borne short- and median-chain chlorinated paraffins using in vitro Tenax-assisted physiologically based method.
Though ingestion and inhalation of dust have been suggested as important exposure routes contributing chlorinated paraffins (CPs) build-up in humans, the bioaccessibility of dust-borne CPs in the organ environment has not been well-studied, which may hinder an accurate estimation of exposure risks. In this study, the ingestion and inhalation bioaccessibility of dust-borne short- and median-chain CPs (SCCPs and MCCPs) was assessed using (colon-extended) physiologically based extraction test with the addition of Tenax. The ingestion bioaccessibility of SCCPs 51.5 %Cl, SCCPs 63 %Cl, MCCPs 42 %Cl, and MCCPs 57 %Cl was in ranges of 21.1-44.0 %, 11.7-45.8 %, 21.9-36.6 %, and 7.9-32.9 %, respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated statistically significant associations of ingestion bioaccessibility with carbon chain length and chlorine substitution. The ingestion bioaccessibility of CPs also increased with co-existence of carbohydrate/protein. The inhalation bioaccessibility of SCCPs (16.7-38.7 % in artificial lysosomal fluid and 15.5-34.1 % in modified Gamble solution) was significantly higher than MCCPs (<5 %), and varied with dust particle size/total organic carbon content. Our study indicates that modest bioaccessible fractions of CPs in dust should be taken into account to refine the estimation of human exposure, and their bioaccessibility may be affected by CP molecular size, nutritional content and dust property.
Topics: Air Pollution, Indoor; China; Dust; Environmental Monitoring; Humans; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; Paraffin
PubMed: 32683154
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.123449 -
Chemosphere May 2022Following the restriction of bisphenol A (BPA) in certain products, a number of bisphenol analogues (BPs) have been used as BPA replacements in different applications,...
Following the restriction of bisphenol A (BPA) in certain products, a number of bisphenol analogues (BPs) have been used as BPA replacements in different applications, raising environmental and health concerns. The present study determined a total of 13 bisphenol analogues in house dust and children urine from South China families (n = 46). Among all BPs, BPA, bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol F (BPF) were frequently detected in house dust, with concentrations ranging from 0.54 to 26.2 μg/g (median: 2.60 μg/g), 0.07-11.5 μg/g (median: 0.32 μg/g) and 0.02-2.4 μg/g (median: 0.29 μg/g), respectively. BPA (median: 2.43 ng/mL) was also the dominant BP in children urine samples, accounting for 75.2 ± 27.4% of the total concentrations of urinary BPs, followed by BPS (0.23 ng/mL), whereas BPF was only detected in less than 30% of urine samples. Children's daily intake of bisphenols through dust ingestion and total daily intakes were estimated based on the dust and urine concentrations, respectively. The estimated intake of BPA, BPS and BPF via house dust ingestion accounted for 9%, 12% and 38% of the total intakes predicted based on urinary concentrations, respectively, and exhibited very low exposure risks.
Topics: Benzhydryl Compounds; Child; China; Dust; Humans; Phenols
PubMed: 35065180
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.133701 -
Environmental Geochemistry and Health Jul 2023In order to solve the problem of environmental pollution caused by the escape of coal dust in open-pit coal mines, a composite dust suppressant was prepared from...
In order to solve the problem of environmental pollution caused by the escape of coal dust in open-pit coal mines, a composite dust suppressant was prepared from Enteromorpha, and the preparation factors (water-soluble polymer, temperature, solid content and surfactant) were optimized. The mechanism of dust suppression and the possibility of large-scale field application were discussed. The research results on the related properties of dust suppressants showed that the performance of Enteromorpha-based dust suppressants prepared by this method was excellent compared with similar studies. Among them, polyacrylamide (PAM) Enteromorpha-based dust suppressant had the best performance, with viscosity of 25.1 mPa s and surface tension of 27.05 mN/m. Moreover, PAM Enteromorpha-based dust suppressant had the best effect, with the mass loss of 2.94% under the wind speed of 10 m/s and the coal dust loss rate of 4.6% after rain erosion, and it had strong water retention performance. Through the discussion of dust suppression mechanism, it was found that the mechanical entangled network structure with hydrogen bonds as nodes was formed after the graft copolymerization of PAM and Enteromorpha. It had high permeability and good adhesion. After quickly wetting coal dust, it formed a dense package for coal dust. The field experiment also showed that the use of Enteromorpha-based dust suppressant can effectively inhibit the escape of coal dust. From the point of view of economy and efficiency, Enteromorpha can save 30% of the material cost and the dust suppression efficiency can reach 89-94%. Therefore, the Enteromorpha-based dust suppressant may stably suppress coal dust on the basis of reducing the cost.
Topics: Dust; Coal Mining; Environmental Pollution; Coal; Minerals; Water
PubMed: 36988854
DOI: 10.1007/s10653-023-01544-5 -
Environmental Science and Pollution... May 2023To solve the problem of excessive dust concentration in the belt transportation roadway of the mine. Numerical simulations were used to study the dust migration in the...
To solve the problem of excessive dust concentration in the belt transportation roadway of the mine. Numerical simulations were used to study the dust migration in the belt transportation roadway under 1.5 m/s ventilation conditions. The simulation results show the process of dust ejection from the inflow chute to contamination of the whole belt transportation roadway, and the spatial distribution of dust velocity. A comprehensive dust reduction scheme of "central suppression and bilateral splitting" was designed according to the dust distribution, with simultaneous control of the infeed chute and the roadway. In practical application, pneumatic spraying greatly reduces the amount of dust in the guide chute. The misting screen has a significant effect on dust collection and segregation. The solution effectively controls the dust in the space of 20 m on both sides of the transfer point, and the dust removal efficiency reaches more than 90%.
Topics: Dust; Computer Simulation; Transportation; Ventilation
PubMed: 37004612
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-26716-9