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Journal of Cleaner Production Sep 2018The rich content of nutrients in human waste provides an outlook for turning it from pollutants to potential resources. The pilot-scale resource-oriented toilet with...
The rich content of nutrients in human waste provides an outlook for turning it from pollutants to potential resources. The pilot-scale resource-oriented toilet with forward osmosis technology was demonstrated to have advantages to recover clean water, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, biogas, and heat from urine and feces. For the possibility of further full-scale implementation in different scenarios, six resource-oriented toilet systems and one conventional toilet system were designed in this study. The methodology of cost-benefit analysis and life cycle assessment were applied to analyze the life cycle economic feasibility and environmental sustainability of these systems. As results indicated, resource-oriented toilets with forward osmosis technology concentrating urine proved to have both economic and environmental benefit. The economic net present value results of new resource-oriented toilets were much better than conventional toilet. The energy consumption in resource-oriented toilets contributes a lot to the environmental impacts while resource recovery such as the fertilizer production and fresh water harvest in resource-oriented toilet systems offsets a lot. Taking both life cycle economic feasibility and environmental sustainability into consideration, the partial resource-oriented toilet (only recovering nutrients from urine) is the best choice, and the totally independent resource-oriented toilet could be applied to replace conventional toilets in areas without any external facilities such as sewer and water supply system .
PubMed: 30245554
DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.06.129 -
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Apr 2021The extensive recorded environmental and occupational dispersal of hexavalent chromium (CrVI) dust contributes to an increased interest in its toxicological...
The extensive recorded environmental and occupational dispersal of hexavalent chromium (CrVI) dust contributes to an increased interest in its toxicological consequences. A previous study of our team described a brain injury induced by acute intranasal instillation of Cr(VI) in rats, which was characterized by oxidative stress and inflammation. This proposed a high risk of brain damage among Cr(VI) exposed individuals either environmentally or occupationally especially through the nasal cavity. Accordingly, the main aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of subacute/subsubacute/subchronic exposure to intranasal potassium dichromate (inPDC) solution in three dose levels (0.125, 0.25, or 0.5 mg/kg/day for five successive days/week) for 3 different intervals/dose: two weeks, one month, and two months, on the brain of rats. The rats were sacrificed 24 h following the last inPDC dose. The locomotor activity, motor coordination, and object recognition behavior of the rats have been measured. Evaluation of oxidative stress; evidenced by lipid peroxidation and reduced glutathione, and inflammatory markers; evidenced by interleukin 1-beta in the brain tissues, as well as the brain PI3K and PKB contents were performed. Furthermore, the brain anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP); marker of neurotoxicity was assessed immunohistochemically. Brain histopathological alterations were also studied. The findings of the current study revealed a dose- and time-dependent inPDC-induced brain toxicity in rats, as displayed by the biochemical, immunohistochemical and histopathological evaluation. Behaviorally, the major toxic effects of inPDC were observed on the locomotor and cognition functions, however, minor effects were observed on the motor coordination. The results suggest that short-term exposure to intranasal Cr(VI), in theses doses, does not trigger a major brain injury in rats; however, observation of more toxic alterations in a time-dependent manner is a threat of more sever toxicity upon longer exposure.
PubMed: 33845363
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112220 -
Contact Dermatitis Sep 2021Allergic contact dermatitis caused by shoes is common and new relevant allergens have been identified.
BACKGROUND
Allergic contact dermatitis caused by shoes is common and new relevant allergens have been identified.
OBJECTIVES
To investigate the pattern of type IV sensitization in patients with suspected allergic contact dermatitis of the feet related to shoes as a presumed culprit trigger.
METHODS
Retrospective analysis of data of the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK), 2009-2018.
RESULTS
Six hundred twenty-five patients with presumed shoe dermatitis were identified in a cohort of 119 417 patients. Compared to patients with suspected contact sensitization from other allergen sources (n = 118 792), study group patients were more frequently sensitized to potassium dichromate (10.8% vs 3.5%), colophony (7.2% vs 3.7%), mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT; 4.0% vs 0.6%), mercapto mix (4.6% vs 0.6%), and p-tert-butylphenol formaldehyde resin (1.6% vs 0.5%). Sensitizations to urea formaldehyde resin, melamine formaldehyde resin, glutaraldehyde, tricresyl phosphate, and phenyl glycidylether were rare. Moreover, reactions to compounds in the leather or textile dyes test series were scarce.
CONCLUSION
A distinct sensitization pattern was observed in patients with suspected allergy to shoe materials. Although substances with low sensitization rates should be removed from the leather and shoe patch test series, novel potential allergens should be added.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Allergens; Austria; Child; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact; Dermatitis, Occupational; Female; Foot Dermatoses; Germany; Humans; Male; Manufactured Materials; Middle Aged; Patch Tests; Retrospective Studies; Shoes; Switzerland; Tanning; Textiles; Young Adult
PubMed: 33882155
DOI: 10.1111/cod.13868 -
Epidemiology and Health 2020The oocysts of the Toxoplasmatinae subfamily (Neospora caninum, Hammondia hammondi and H. heydorni, and Besnoitia besnoiti) are morphologically similar to Toxoplasma...
OBJECTIVES
The oocysts of the Toxoplasmatinae subfamily (Neospora caninum, Hammondia hammondi and H. heydorni, and Besnoitia besnoiti) are morphologically similar to Toxoplasma gondii, and indistinguishable from each other. This study investigated the prevalence of the Toxoplasmatinae subfamily in dog and cat fecal samples using a nested polymerase chain reaction method.
METHODS
Overall, 200 fecal samples from domestic dogs (n=120) and cats (n=80) were collected from 15 farms in northern Iran. The samples were homogenized in 2.5% potassium dichromate solution and subsequently concentrated with sucrose solution. DNA was extracted from samples using a genomic DNA kit. Specific primers and the 18S rDNA gene were used to screen and detect all Toxoplasmatinae oocysts.
RESULTS
Overall, 2.5% (3 of 120) and 22.5% (18 of 80) of the fecal samples collected from dogs and cats were infected with Toxoplasmatinae. In dogs, 2 samples were positive for N. caninum and 1 sample was positive for T. gondii. In cats, all 18 positive samples belonged to T. gondii. No contamination with H. heydorni was observed in dog fecal samples or H. hammondi and B. besnoiti in cat fecal samples. A phylogenetic analysis revealed that the T. gondii (cat) and N. caninum (dog) found had similarities with parasites reported from other regions of the world.
CONCLUSIONS
This is the first study to provide data on the epidemiology of Toxoplasmatinae oocysts in Iran. The findings suggest that public-health monitoring for the effective control of feces from cats and dogs and improved pet hygiene habits are needed.
Topics: Animals; Cat Diseases; Cats; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Feces; Iran; Oocysts; Phylogeny; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Toxoplasma; Toxoplasmosis, Animal
PubMed: 33285057
DOI: 10.4178/epih.e2020074 -
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Jul 2022Hexavalent chromium [Cr (VI)] is a common environmental pollutant. Although selenium (Se) can antagonize the toxicity of Cr (VI), the specific underlying mechanism has...
Hexavalent chromium [Cr (VI)] is a common environmental pollutant. Although selenium (Se) can antagonize the toxicity of Cr (VI), the specific underlying mechanism has not been identified. To investigate this mechanism, we used potassium dichromate (KCrO) and selenium-rich yeast (SeY) to construct single Cr (VI)- and combined Se/Cr (VI)-exposed broiler models during a 42-day period. Broilers were randomly assigned to the control (C), SeY (Se), SeY + Cr (VI) (Se/Cr), and Cr (VI) (Cr) groups. The antagonistic mechanisms of Se and Cr (VI) were evaluated using histopathological evaluation, serum and tissue biochemical tests, real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and western blotting. The results suggested that Se alleviated the morphological and structural damage to renal tubules and glomeruli, while reducing the organ index, creatinine levels, and blood urea nitrogen levels in the kidneys of Cr (VI)-exposed broilers. Furthermore, Cr (VI) reduced the levels of superoxide dismutase and glutathione, and increased the levels of malondialdehyde, in broiler kidney tissues. However, Se alleviated Cr (VI)-induced oxidative stress by increasing the levels of superoxide dismutase and glutathione, and decreasing the levels of malondialdehyde, within a certain range. Compared to the C group, the levels of p38, JNK, p-p38, p-JNK, p-p38/p38, and p-JNK/JNK significantly increased, whereas those of ERK, p-ERK, and p-ERK/ERK decreased, in the Cr group. Compared to the Cr group, the levels of p38, JNK, p-p38, p-JNK, p-p38/p38, and p-JNK/JNK significantly decreased, whereas those of ERK, p-ERK, and p-ERK/ERK increased, in the Se/Cr group. Furthermore, the levels of p53, c-Myc, Bax, Cyt-c, caspase-9, and caspase-3 significantly increased, and those of Bcl-2 and Bcl-2/Bax significantly decreased, following Cr (VI) exposure, while Se restored the expression of these genes. In conclusion, our findings suggest that SeY can protect against Cr (VI)-induced dysfunction and apoptosis by regulating the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway activated by oxidative stress in broiler kidney tissues.
Topics: Animals; Apoptosis; Chickens; Chromium; Glutathione; Kidney; Malondialdehyde; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Selenium; Superoxide Dismutase; bcl-2-Associated X Protein
PubMed: 35576799
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113629 -
Indian Journal of Dermatology 2021Hypermelanosis involving predominantly the face and neck is relatively common and often presents a complex diagnostic problem.
BACKGROUND
Hypermelanosis involving predominantly the face and neck is relatively common and often presents a complex diagnostic problem.
OBJECTIVE
To study the patterns of facial melanosis in Indian skin and assess the importance of patch testing as a corroborative tool in the diagnosis of facial melanosis.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
A total of 50 patients who consented to the study and satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria were incorporated in the study. These patients were subjected to a detailed history, clinical, dermoscopic, and histopathological evaluation. Patch testing using the universal series, cosmetic series, and photopatch was done on those who satisfied the inclusion criteria. Suspected allergen "as is" patch testing was done in selected cases.
RESULTS
Facial melanosis as a result of contact dermatitis is a common entity and was seen in the age group of 18-70 years in both the sexes with male to female ratio of 6.5:2.5 indicating a male preponderance. The most common dermoscopic finding was the presence of reticular pigment network seen in 33 (66%) cases. Histopathology showed increased basal melanin in 56% and pigment incontinence in 26% of the cases. The commonest allergen in men was found to be potassium dichromate (15%), while in females it was nickel (20%). Photopatch test was done for all the patients and was positive in five cases (10%). Suspected allergen "as is" patch testing was negative in all the cases.
CONCLUSIONS
Facial melanosis as a result of contact dermatitis can be confused with other acquired dermatological conditions causing hyperpigmentation. Therefore, a detailed history of contact with allergens has to be elicited, and if found relevant, has to be confirmed by patch testing.
PubMed: 34759389
DOI: 10.4103/ijd.IJD_559_19 -
Scientific Reports Jan 2020Novel modified Ni/Fe layered double hydroxides with different morphology of spherical - like shape were fabricated via using urea as a ligand and glycerol (Ni/Fe LDH/GL)...
Novel modified Ni/Fe layered double hydroxides with different morphology of spherical - like shape were fabricated via using urea as a ligand and glycerol (Ni/Fe LDH/GL) with Ni:Fe molar ratios of 2:1 by the simplest co -precipitation method. Also, for comparison purposes, Ni/Fe LDH was synthesized to be used as a control one. A suggested interpretation for the morphology change was also given. The materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), The Fourier transform infrared (FT - IR) spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), EDX for elemental analysis, high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller (BET) equation, particle size distributions and Zeta potential measurements. In addition, the synthesized materials were used as adsorbents for removal of potassium dichromate from aqueous solutions under various experimental conditions. The adsorption of Cr (VI) was strongly pH dependant and the pH was studied. Kinetic studies were evaluated through different models including, pseudo first and second orders, mixed 1, 2 orders, intra particle diffusion and Avrami models. For adsorption isotherms, two-parameter models (Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin) and three parameter models (Sips, Langmuir-Freundlich and Tooth) were investigated showing maximum adsorption capacity of 50.43 mg/g and 136.05 mg/g for Ni/Fe LDH and Ni/Fe LDH/GL, respectively. Also, the effect of temperature was investigated at (23, 35, 45, 55 °C) and the thermodynamic parameters (∆H°, ∆S° and ∆G°) were calculated showing exothermic and spontaneous adsorption process. The effect of coexisting anions (Cl, SO and HPO) and humic acid at different concentrations on the removal efficiency of dichromate ions was investigated. Chemical stability and recyclability of these adsorbents were also studied. The intermolecular hydrogen bonds formation between dichromate ion, urea, glycerol, LDH was explored by Monte Carlo simulation This study suggested that the modified Ni/Fe LDH/GL materials were promising nanoadsorbents for efficient potassium dichromate removal.
PubMed: 31953466
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-57519-4 -
PloS One 2016Chromium (Cr) is used in many industries and it is widely distributed in the environment. Exposure to Cr dust has been reported among workers at these industries. Beside...
Intranasal Chromium Induces Acute Brain and Lung Injuries in Rats: Assessment of Different Potential Hazardous Effects of Environmental and Occupational Exposure to Chromium and Introduction of a Novel Pharmacological and Toxicological Animal Model.
Chromium (Cr) is used in many industries and it is widely distributed in the environment. Exposure to Cr dust has been reported among workers at these industries. Beside its hazardous effects on the lungs, brain injury could be induced, as the absorption of substances through the nasal membrane has been found to provide them a direct delivery to the brain. We investigated the distribution and the effects of Cr in both brain and lung following the intranasal instillation of potassium dichromate (inPDC) in rats. Simultaneously, we used the common intraperitoneal (ipPDC) rat model of acute Cr-toxicity for comparison. Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into five groups (n = 6); each received a single dose of saline, ipPDC (15 mg/kg), or inPDC in three dose levels: 0.5, 1, or 2 mg/kg. Locomotor activity was assessed before and 24 h after PDC administration, then, the lungs and brain were collected for biochemical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical investigations. Treatment of rats with ipPDC resulted in a recognition of 36% and 31% of the injected dose of Cr in the brain and lung tissues, respectively. In inPDC-treated rats, targeting the brain by Cr was increased in a dose-dependent manner to reach 46% of the instilled dose in the group treated with the highest dose. Moreover, only this high dose of inPDC resulted in a delivery of a significant concentration of Cr, which represented 42% of the instilled dose, to the lungs. The uppermost alteration in the rats locomotor activity as well as in the brain and lung histopathological features and contents of oxidative stress biomarkers, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), phosphorylated protein kinase B (PKB), and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) were observed in the rats treated with inPDC (2 mg/kg). The findings revealed that these toxic manifestations were directly proportional to the delivered concentration of Cr to the tissue. In conclusion, the study showed that a comparably higher concentrations of Cr and more elevated levels of oxidative stress and inflammatory markers were observed in brain and lung tissues of rats subjected to inPDC in a dose that is just 0.13 that of ipPDC dose commonly used in Cr-induced toxicity studies. Therefore, the study suggests a high risk of brain-targeting injury among individuals environmentally or occupationally exposed to Cr dust, even in low doses, and an additional risk of lung injury with higher Cr concentrations. Moreover, the study introduces inPDC (2 mg/kg)-instillation as a new experimental animal model suitable to study the acute brain and lung toxicities induced by intranasal exposure to Cr compounds.
Topics: Acute Lung Injury; Administration, Intranasal; Animals; Behavior, Animal; Brain; Brain Injuries; Chromium; Disease Models, Animal; Environmental Exposure; Humans; Locomotion; Lung; Male; Occupational Exposure; Rats; Rats, Wistar
PubMed: 27997619
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168688 -
Toxicology Reports 2022Previous studies from our laboratory showed that prenatal exposure to hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), caused premature ovarian failure and decreased pregnancy rates and...
Previous studies from our laboratory showed that prenatal exposure to hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), caused premature ovarian failure and decreased pregnancy rates and litter size. Exposure to the endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can cause X-chromosome aneuploidy of the oocytes, increasing chromosome missegregation and risk of infertility, autoimmune diseases, cancers, and various genetic disorders. Cr(VI) is an EDC that is widely used in numerous industries. Environmental exposure to Cr(VI) caused detrimental reproductive effects in women and health effects in infants from California. Women with occupational Cr(VI) exposure experienced infertility, pregnancy loss, spontaneous abortion, and stillbirth. However, the adverse effects of Cr(VI) on oocyte development and quality have not been reported. Mitochondrial membrane potential and function are the critical determinants of oocyte quality in natural pregnancies and successful assisted reproductive techniques. The cytoskeletal machinery of the oocytes orchestrates the meiotic division of the oocytes, whereas cortical granules (CGs) prevent polyspermy. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to examine whether the mechanism by which Cr(VI) compromises oocyte quality and morphology is by altering cytoskeleton dynamics and mitochondrial function of the metaphase II (MII) oocytes. Rats were treated with environmentally relevant doses of Cr(VI) (1 and 5 ppm potassium dichromate) in drinking water from postnatal day (PND) 22-28, followed by superovulation and retrieval of MII oocytes. The data indicate that Cr(VI) exposure disrupted F-actin structure and distribution pattern, compromised mitochondrial function, altered CGs distribution, increased dysmorphic and degenerated oocytes, delayed first polar body extrusion, and caused infertility.
PubMed: 36518455
DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2022.02.002 -
International Journal For Parasitology Aug 2021Molecular studies of gastrointestinal infections or microbiotas require either rapid sample processing or effective interim preservation. This is difficult in remote...
Molecular studies of gastrointestinal infections or microbiotas require either rapid sample processing or effective interim preservation. This is difficult in remote settings in low-income countries, where the majority of the global infectious disease burden exists. Processing or freezing of samples immediately upon collection is often not feasible and the cost of commercial preservatives is prohibitive. We compared fresh freezing (the 'gold standard' method), with low-cost chemical preservation in (i) a salt-based buffer consisting of DMSO, EDTA and NaCl (DESS) or (ii) 2.5% potassium dichromate (PD), for soil-transmitted helminth detection and microbiota characterisation in pre-school and school-aged children from north-western Thailand. Fresh frozen samples were frozen at -20°C on collection and maintained at -80°C within ~3 days of collection until molecular analysis, with international shipping on dry ice. In contrast, chemically preserved samples were collected and stored at ~4°C, transported on wet ice and only stored at -20°C on arrival in Australia ~8 weeks after collection, with international shipping on wet ice. DESS and PD provided better sensitivity for STH diagnosis, estimating higher infection rates (>80% for Ascaris lumbricoides and >60% for Trichuris trichiura; versus 56% and 15% for these parasites in fresh frozen samples) and egg abundance (inferred as gene copy number estimates). All methods performed similarly for microbiota preservation, showing no significant differences in alpha-diversity based on overall richness or inverted Simpson's Index. All three methods performed similarly for RNA and protein preservation in a small subset of samples. Overall, DESS provided the best performance, with the added benefit of being non-toxic, compared with PD, hence making it particularly applicable for studies in remote and resource-poor settings.
Topics: Animals; Child; Feces; Helminths; Humans; Microbiota; Soil; Trichuris
PubMed: 33774039
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2021.01.002