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PloS One 2024Increases in near-surface ozone (O3) concentrations is a global environmental problem. High-concentration O3 induces stress in plants, which can lead to visible damage... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Increases in near-surface ozone (O3) concentrations is a global environmental problem. High-concentration O3 induces stress in plants, which can lead to visible damage to plants, reduced photosynthesis, accelerated aging, inhibited growth, and can even plant death. However, its impact has not been comprehensively evaluated because of the response differences between individual plant species, environmental O3 concentration, and duration of O3 stress in plants. We used a meta-analysis approach based on 31 studies 343 observations) to examine the effects of elevated O3 on malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and peroxidase (POD) activities in herbaceous plants. Globally, important as they constitute the majority of the world's food crops. We partitioned the variation in effect size found in the meta-analysis according to the presence of plant species (ornamental herb, rice, and wheat), O3 concentration, and duration of O3 stress in plants. Our results showed that the effects of elevated O3 on plant membrane lipid peroxidation depending on plant species, O3 concentration, and duration of O3 stress in plants. The wheat SOD and POD activity was significantly lower compared to the herbs and rice (P<0.01). The SOD activity of all herbaceous plants increased by 34.6%, 10.5%, and 26.3% for exposure times to elevated O3 environments of 1-12, 13-30, and 31-60 days, respectively. When the exposure time was more than 60 days, SOD activity did not increase but significantly decreased by 12.1%. However, the POD activity of herbaceous plants increased by 30.4%, 57.3%, 21.9% and 5.81%, respectively, when exposure time of herbaceous plants in elevated O3 environment was 1-12, 13-30, 31-60 and more than 60 days. Our meta-analysis revealed that (1) rice is more resistant to elevated O3 than wheat and ornamental herbs likely because of the higher activity of antioxidant components (e.g., POD) in the symplasts, (2) exposure to elevated O3 concentrations for >60 days, may result in antioxidant SOD lose its regulatory ability, and the antioxidant component POD in the symplast is mainly used to resist O3 damage, and (3) the important factors affected the activity of SOD and POD in plants were not consistent: the duration of O3 stress in plants was more important than plant species and O3 concentration for SOD activity. However, for POD activity, plant species was the most important factor.
Topics: Superoxide Dismutase; Antioxidants; Ozone; Malondialdehyde; Lipid Peroxidation; Plants; Oxidative Stress; Oxidoreductases; Oryza; Peroxidase
PubMed: 38917096
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305688 -
Cureus May 2024Ozone has been used as an antibacterial agent for various purposes in healthcare. The use of ozone in dental practice is also well-established. Its utilization as a... (Review)
Review
Ozone has been used as an antibacterial agent for various purposes in healthcare. The use of ozone in dental practice is also well-established. Its utilization as a mouth rinse needs to be explored for further application in clinical practice, especially for cases of gingivitis, a common complaint. This systematic review aims to analyze the literature on the effects of ozonated water in managing gingival inflammation and bleeding across diverse populations. A systematic search adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines was conducted in PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane. Studies published between January 2012 and December 2023 employing ozonated water as a treatment for gingivitis or gingival bleeding were included. Five studies met the inclusion criteria, demonstrating the varied efficacy of ozonated water. While some studies showed promising results in reducing bleeding and gingival inflammation, others indicated limitations compared to chlorhexidine. Methodological heterogeneity and lack of standardization were notable. The evidence suggests potential benefits of ozonated water in managing gingival inflammation and bleeding, but methodological variations hinder conclusive findings. Long-term studies with larger sample sizes and standardized protocols are needed to establish the effectiveness of ozonated water as an adjunctive therapy for gingival health.
PubMed: 38915955
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.61006 -
Proceedings of the National Academy of... Jul 2024We show that the Landsat and Sentinel-2 satellites can detect NO plumes from large point sources at 10 to 60 m pixel resolution in their blue and ultrablue bands. We use...
We show that the Landsat and Sentinel-2 satellites can detect NO plumes from large point sources at 10 to 60 m pixel resolution in their blue and ultrablue bands. We use the resulting NO plume imagery to quantify nitrogen oxides (NO) emission rates for several power plants in Saudi Arabia and the United States, including a 13-y analysis of 132 Landsat plumes from Riyadh power plant 9 from 2009 through 2021. NO in the plumes initially increases with distance from the source, likely reflecting recovery from ozone titration. The fine pixel resolutions of Landsat and Sentinel-2 enable separation of individual point sources and stacks, including in urban background, and the long records enable examination of multidecadal emission trends. Our inferred NO emission rates are consistent with previous estimates to within a precision of about 30%. Sources down to ~500 kg h can be detected over bright, quasi-homogeneous surfaces. The 2009 to 2021 data for Riyadh power plant 9 show a strong summer peak in emissions, consistent with increased power demand for air conditioning, and a marginal slow decrease following the introduction of Saudi Arabia's Ambient Air Standard 2012.
PubMed: 38913899
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2317077121 -
Environmental Epidemiology... Dec 2023Preterm birth (PTB; <37 weeks completed gestation) is associated with exposure to air pollution, though variability in association magnitude and direction across...
BACKGROUND
Preterm birth (PTB; <37 weeks completed gestation) is associated with exposure to air pollution, though variability in association magnitude and direction across exposure windows exists. We evaluated associations between weekly gestational exposure to fine particulate matter (PM), nitrogen dioxide (NO), and ozone (O) with PTB in a North Carolina Birth Cohort from 2003 to 2015 (N = 1,367,517).
METHODS
Daily average PM and daily 8-hour maximum NO concentration estimates were obtained from a hybrid ensemble model with a spatial resolution of 1 km. Daily 8-hour maximum census tract-level concentration estimates for O were obtained from the EPA's Fused Air Quality Surface Using Downscaling model. Air pollutant concentrations were linked by census tract to residential address at delivery and averaged across each week of pregnancy. Modified Poisson regression models with robust errors were used to estimate risk differences (RD [95% confidence intervals (CI)]) for an interquartile range increase in pollutants per 10,000 births, adjusted for potential confounders.
RESULTS
Associations were similar in magnitude across weeks. We observed positive associations for PM and O exposures, but generally null associations with NO. RDs ranged from 15 (95% CI = 11, 18) to 32 (27, 37) per 10,000 births for PM; from -7 (-14, -1) to 0 (-5, 4) for NO; and from 4 (1, 7) to 13 (10, 16) for O.
CONCLUSION
Our results show that increased PM exposure is associated with an increased risk of PTB across gestational weeks, and these associations persist in multipollutant models with NO and/or O.
PubMed: 38912391
DOI: 10.1097/EE9.0000000000000278 -
Biomedical Reports Aug 2024At low medically-relevant concentrations, ozone serves as an oxidant with a wide spectrum of antimicrobial activity and the ability to promote healing and reduce... (Review)
Review
At low medically-relevant concentrations, ozone serves as an oxidant with a wide spectrum of antimicrobial activity and the ability to promote healing and reduce inflammation. Despite providing therapeutic benefits in a range of diseases, certain adverse effects and contraindications of ozone treatment must be considered. These are primarily related to toxicity from inhalation and systemic types of administration and can be avoided by following relevant guidelines and recommendations. Ozone therapy has been implemented in a number of fields of dentistry and the most commonly used formulations for the oral cavity are gaseous ozone, ozonized water and ozonized oil. The biological mechanisms underlying the molecular effects of ozone have been increasingly reported, but currently remain largely unknown. The aim of the present review was to provide an overview of the mechanisms involved in ozone interaction with dental tissues. The present review focused on relevant evidence regarding the effect of ozone on dental tissues, including periodontal structures, dental cells, enamel and dentine, considering studies in addition to animal and human studies. A variety of biological mechanisms acting through multiple biochemical target pathways were reported to be responsible for the therapeutic effects of ozone. The main beneficial effects of ozone occurred in the following domains: antimicrobial activity, remineralization and microstructural changes of hard dental tissues, immunomodulation and biostimulation of dental and periodontal cells. Additional research could provide further insights into the use of ozone, increase its use for broader clinical applications and assist in the selection of targeted protocols.
PubMed: 38912169
DOI: 10.3892/br.2024.1803 -
Journal of Alzheimer's Disease Reports 2024There is a need for integration and comprehensive characterization of environmental determinants of Alzheimer's disease. The Environmental Justice Index (EJI) is a new...
BACKGROUND
There is a need for integration and comprehensive characterization of environmental determinants of Alzheimer's disease. The Environmental Justice Index (EJI) is a new measure that consolidates multiple environmental health hazards.
OBJECTIVE
This analysis aims to explore how environmental vulnerabilities vary by race/ethnicity and whether they predict cognitive outcomes in a clinical trial of mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
METHODS
We used data from a clinical trial of 107 MCI participants (28% minorities). Using the EJI, we extracted 40 measures of neighborhood environmental and social vulnerability including air and water pollution, access to recreational spaces, exposure to coal and lead mines, and area poverty. We also examined the relationship of the EJI to the Area Deprivation Index (ADI). Data was analyzed using regressions, correlations, and -tests.
RESULTS
Environmental Burden Rank (EBR) across the sample (0.53±0.32) was near the 50th percentile nationally. When divided by race/ethnicity, environmental ( = 0.025) and social ( < 0.0001) vulnerabilities were significantly elevated for minorities, specifically for exposure to ozone, diesel particulate matter, carcinogenic air toxins, and proximity to treatment storage and disposal sites. ADI state decile was not correlated with the EBR. Neither EBR nor ADI were a significant predictor of cognitive decline.
CONCLUSIONS
To our knowledge, this is the first study to link the EJI to an MCI trial. Despite limitations of a relatively small sample size, the study illustrates the potential of the EJI to provide deeper phenotyping of the exposome and diversity in clinical trial subjects.
PubMed: 38910939
DOI: 10.3233/ADR-240020 -
Chemosphere Jun 2024This prospective work focuses on the use of two different gaseous oxidants (chlorine dioxide and ozone) to remediate soil polluted with methomyl in two different...
This prospective work focuses on the use of two different gaseous oxidants (chlorine dioxide and ozone) to remediate soil polluted with methomyl in two different applications: ex-situ and in-situ. In the first, the soil washing is integrated with the bubbling of the oxidant, while in the second, the gas was introduced by a perforated pipe located sub-superficially. Regarding the soil washing treatment, results demonstrate that direct use of ozone is not very efficient, although an important improvement is obtained following activation with hydrogen peroxide or UV light. In contrast, chlorine dioxide exhibited complete methomyl depletion from the soil, although with higher energy consumption and technical complexity compared to ozone. The direct dosing of the gaseous oxidants in perforated pipes is effective, achieving methomyl removals of 7.8 % and 9.2 % using ozone and chlorine dioxide, respectively. In these cases, soil conditions are not significantly modified, which becomes an important advantage of the technology as compared with other electrochemically assisted soil remediation process, in which large regions of the treated soil are affected by important changes in the pH or by depletion of ions. This lower impact makes these novel technologies more promising for further evaluations.
PubMed: 38906193
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142653 -
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Jun 2024The joint effect of air pollutants at relatively low levels requires further investigation. Here, a database study was performed to evaluate the effects of exposure to...
The joint effect of air pollutants at relatively low levels requires further investigation. Here, a database study was performed to evaluate the effects of exposure to mixtures of air pollutants during pregnancy, infancy, and childhood on childhood persistent asthma. We used the Japan Medical Data Center database, which provides access to family linkages and healthcare provider addresses, and included child-mother dyads in which the child was born between January 2010 and January 2017. The exposure of interest was ground-level air pollutants, and the primary outcome was childhood persistent asthma at 45 years of age, as defined based on outpatient and inpatient asthma disease codes and/or asthma medication dispensing claims. The weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression was used to evaluate the effects of air pollutant mixtures on 52,526 child-mother dyads from 1149 of 1907 municipalities (60.3 %) in Japan. The WQS regression models showed that with every 10th percentile increase in the WQS index, ground-level air pollutants during pregnancy, infancy, and childhood increased the risk of childhood persistent asthma by an odds ratio of 1.04 (95 % CI: 1.02-1.05; p<0.001), 1.02 (95 % CI: 1.01-1.03; p<0.001), and 1.03 (95 % CI: 1.01-1.04; p<0.001), respectively. Moreover, particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 µm was assigned the highest weight across all three exposure periods. Relatively high weights were assigned to suspended particulate matter and photochemical oxidants during pregnancy, carbon monoxide during infancy, and photochemical oxidants during childhood. Our study showed that a mixture of low-level air pollutants has a detrimental association with childhood persistent asthma.
PubMed: 38905932
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116626 -
RSC Advances Jun 2024Manganese-based lithium-ion sieves have become some of the promising adsorbents for extracting Li from brines. However, manganese dissolution loss (MDL) severely impairs...
Manganese-based lithium-ion sieves have become some of the promising adsorbents for extracting Li from brines. However, manganese dissolution loss (MDL) severely impairs the stability and cyclicity of ion sieves. A novel ozone eluent was first developed to extract Li from lithium manganese oxides, which decreased MDL decreased from 5.89% to 0.11%, and after ten regeneration cycles, the adsorption capacity retained 85.39% of the initial value, which was better than 55.15% when only hydrochloric acid (HCl) was used as the eluent. Based on these phenomena, the mechanism for the O lowering of MDL was investigated. First, the catalytic decomposition reaction of O competed with the disproportionation reaction, and the involvement of O inhibited the occurrence of the disproportionation reaction. Additionally, the presence of O and reactive oxygen species provided a preferential electron acceptor compared to Mn during the migration of electrons from the bulk phase to the surface. In this study, MDL was greatly reduced with a very simple strategy, and the cycling stability of the adsorbent was improved.
PubMed: 38903669
DOI: 10.1039/d4ra02757d -
Cureus May 2024Chronic traumatic ulcers (CTUs) of the oral cavity are frequently brought on by repeated mechanical stress, such as biting or friction from dental appliances, or sharp...
Chronic traumatic ulcers (CTUs) of the oral cavity are frequently brought on by repeated mechanical stress, such as biting or friction from dental appliances, or sharp or broken carious teeth. Although they are frequently disregarded, patients with nonhealing ulcers in the mouth should have CTUs taken into consideration. This report highlights the significance of differential diagnosis and suitable treatment options by discussing a case of a CTU that persisted on the tongue's right lateral border.
PubMed: 38903299
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.60774