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Water Research May 2024Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) provide vital services to the public by removing contaminants from wastewater prior to environmental discharge or reuse for...
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) provide vital services to the public by removing contaminants from wastewater prior to environmental discharge or reuse for beneficial purposes. WWTP workers occupationally exposed to wastewater can be at risk of respiratory or gastrointestinal diseases. The study objectives were to: (1) quantify pathogens and pathogen indicators in wastewater aerosols near different WWTP processes/unit operations, (2) develop a QMRA model for multi-pathogen and multi-exposure pathway risks, and (3) create a web-based application to perform and communicate risk calculations for wastewater workers. Case studies for seven different WWTP job tasks were performed investigating infection risk across nine different enteric and respiratory pathogens. It was observed that the ingestion risk among job tasks was highest for "walking the WWTP," which involved exposure from splashing, bioaerosols, and hand-to-mouth contact from touching contaminated surfaces. There was also a notable difference in exposure risk during peak (5:00am-9:00am) and non-peak hours (9:00am- 5:00am), with risks during the peak flow hours of the early morning assumed to be 5 times greater than non-peak hours. N95 respirator usage reduced median respiratory risks by 77 %. The developed tool performs multiple QMRA calculations to estimate WWTP workers' infection risks from accidental ingestion or inhalation of wastewater from multiple pathogens and exposure scenarios, which can inform risk management strategies to protect occupational health. However, more data are needed to reduce uncertainty in model estimates, including comparative data for pathogen concentrations in wastewater during peak and non-peak hours. QMRA tools will increase accessibility of risk models for utilization in decision-making.
PubMed: 38936269
DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121858 -
Environment International Jun 2024
PubMed: 38936068
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108807 -
American Journal of Respiratory and... Jun 2024
PubMed: 38935619
DOI: 10.1164/rccm.202405-1031LE -
Journal of Water and Health Jun 2024The aim of this study was to investigate the use of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) to estimate heavy metal exposure in Sungai Petani, Malaysia. Atomic absorption...
The aim of this study was to investigate the use of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) to estimate heavy metal exposure in Sungai Petani, Malaysia. Atomic absorption spectroscopy was used to detect copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and cadmium (Cd) in wastewater from eight sewage treatment facilities in Sungai Petani in January 2022. The heavy metal concentrations were measured in both influent and effluent, and the mean concentrations in the wastewater were found to be in the following order: Fe > Ni > Zn > Cd > Cu, with a 100% detection frequency. The results of WBE estimation showed that Fe, Ni, and Zn had the highest estimated per population exposure levels, while Cd had the lowest. Compared to a similar study conducted in Penang, Malaysia, all metals except Cu were found to have higher concentrations in Sungai Petani, even though it is a non-industrial district. These findings highlight the importance of addressing heavy metal contamination in Sungai Petani and implementing effective risk management and prevention strategies.
Topics: Metals, Heavy; Malaysia; Wastewater; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Humans
PubMed: 38935448
DOI: 10.2166/wh.2024.241 -
Epidemiology (Cambridge, Mass.) Jun 2024Prenatal ethylene oxide exposure may have adverse effects on fetal development. We examined the relationships between ethylene oxide hemoglobin (Hb) adduct levels and...
BACKGROUND
Prenatal ethylene oxide exposure may have adverse effects on fetal development. We examined the relationships between ethylene oxide hemoglobin (Hb) adduct levels and offspring's size at birth in a prospective European mother-child study.
METHODS
This study included 1,106 singletons from the NewGeneris project (2006-2010) with ethylene oxide Hb adducts measured in cord blood. We examined the relationships between adduct levels and offspring's size at birth among all infants and separately among infants of non-smokers, using linear regression models for birth weight and birth head circumference and logarithmic binomial regression models for small-for-gestational age (SGA). We examined potential interactions between CYP2E1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in cord blood and the effects of ethylene oxide Hb adduct levels on offspring birth size.
RESULTS
Higher quartiles of adduct levels as a measure of exposure were associated with decreasing birth weight and head circumference in the overall population. Compared to infants in the lowest quartile, those in the highest quartile exhibited lower birth weight (-70.73 g, 95% CI: -141.16, -0.30) and reduced head circumference (-0.30 cm, 95% CI: -0.58, -0.02). We observed similar, albeit less pronounced, patterns among infants of non-smokers. There was no evidence of an association between ethylene oxide Hb adducts and risk of SGA, nor consistent evidence of an interaction with CYP2E1 polymorphisms on the association between EO Hb adduct levels and offspring's size at birth.
CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that higher ethylene oxide Hb adduct levels in cord blood are associated with a reduction in offspring birth size.
PubMed: 38935439
DOI: 10.1097/EDE.0000000000001767 -
Effect of Lead Exposure and Lifestyle Factors on Methylation Index Markers Among Pb-Exposed Workers.Biological Trace Element Research Jun 2024S-Adenosylmethionine (SAM) and S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) and the ratio of SAM and SAH in Pb-exposed workers need to be assessed. In this study, we investigated the...
S-Adenosylmethionine (SAM) and S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) and the ratio of SAM and SAH in Pb-exposed workers need to be assessed. In this study, we investigated the effects of Pb exposure on SAM, SAH, and methylation index (MI) in Pb-exposed workers with contemplation of lifestyle factors. Blood lead levels (BLLs), SAM, SAH, MI, and lifestyle factors were assessed in 338 male Pb-exposed workers. BLLs are estimated by ICP-OES method. SAM and SAH levels in serum were determined by ELISA method. The MI was calculated using SAM and SAH individual values. The lifestyle factors were collected using standard questionnaire. Levels of SAM and MI were significantly decreased with increased age, experience > 5 years, habits of tobacco chewing, smoking, alcohol consumption, and BLLs 10-30, 30-50, and > 50 µg/dL. Levels of SAH were significantly increased with increased age, habits of tobacco chewing and smoking, and BLLs 10-30, 30-50, and > 50 µg/dL. The association between BLLs and methylation index markers (SAM and MI) was reported as negative and significant. The association between BLLs and SAH was noted positive and significant. The influence of BLLs and lifestyle factors on SAM was noted at 12%, SAH at 35%, and MI at 27%, respectively. The highest percentage of influence was noted in SAH, followed by MI and SAM. In the workers exposed to Pb, lifestyle factors resulted in decreased SAM and MI and increased SAH levels. Adaptation of healthy lifestyle factors, personal hygiene practices, and use of PPE were suggested to minimize the reduction of methylation index markers.
PubMed: 38935257
DOI: 10.1007/s12011-024-04270-w -
Psychological Trauma : Theory,... Jun 2024To longitudinally estimate the prevalence and predictors of potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs) and posttraumatic embitterment disorder (PTED) and in U.K....
OBJECTIVE
To longitudinally estimate the prevalence and predictors of potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs) and posttraumatic embitterment disorder (PTED) and in U.K. health and social care workers (HSCWs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, to investigate the mechanism by which PMIEs increase embitterment by lowering personal belief in procedural justice, that is, the belief that they experience fair processes.
METHOD
An online longitudinal survey was hosted on Qualtrics between September-October 2020 and September-November 2021. Using Prolific, 400 HSCWs aged 18 or above and working in the United Kingdom during the pandemic were recruited. PMIEs were assessed using the Moral Injury Events Scale, and PTED was assessed using the PTED self-rating scale. Potential predictors were measured using surveys of exposure to occupational stressors, optimism, pessimism, self-esteem, resilient coping style, consideration of future consequences, and personal just world beliefs.
RESULTS
Seventy-one percent of participants experienced at least one COVID-related PMIE and 20% displayed clinically relevant signs of PTED at Time 2 in 2021. Exposure to occupational stressors increased the risk of experiencing PMIEs and PTED, whereas personal belief in a procedurally just world protected against transgressions by others and betrayal PMIEs. Self-esteem was protective, and a resilient coping style was a risk for experiencing betrayal. PMIEs increased embitterment by lowering personal belief in procedural justice over a 12-month period.
CONCLUSIONS
PMIEs and PTED are being experienced by U.K. HSCWs in 2020 and 2021, particularly in those exposed to work-related stressors. Exposure to PMIEs increases the risk of embitterment by lowering belief in procedural justice. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).
PubMed: 38934936
DOI: 10.1037/tra0001723 -
Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics Dec 2024Tetanus toxin (TeNT) is one of the most toxic proteins. Neutralizing antibodies against TeNT are effective in prevention and treatment. In this study, 14 anti-tetanus...
Tetanus toxin (TeNT) is one of the most toxic proteins. Neutralizing antibodies against TeNT are effective in prevention and treatment. In this study, 14 anti-tetanus nanobodies were obtained from a phage display nanobody library by immunizing a camel with the C-terminal receptor-binding domain of TeNT (TeNT-Hc) as the antigen. After fusion with the human Fc fragment, 11 chimeric heavy-chain antibodies demonstrated nanomolar binding toward TeNT-Hc. The results of toxin neutralization experiments showed that T83-7, T83-8, and T83-13 completely protected mice against 20 × the median lethal dose (LD) at a low concentration. The neutralizing potency of T83-7, T83-8, and T83-13 against TeNT is 0.4 IU/mg, 0.4 IU/mg and 0.2 IU/mg, respectively. In the prophylactic setting, we found that 5 mg/kg of T83-13 provided the mice with full protection from tetanus, even when they were injected 14 days before exposure to 20 × LD TeNT. T83-7 and T83-8 were less effective, being fully protective only when challenged 7 or 10 days before exposure, respectively. In the therapeutic setting, 12 h after exposure to TeNT, 1 ~ 5 mg/kg of T83-7, and T83-8 could provide complete protection for mice against 5 × LD TeNT, while 1 mg/kg T83-13 could provide complete protection 24 h after exposure to 5 × LD TeNT. Our results suggested that these antibodies represent prophylactic and therapeutic activities against TeNT in a mouse model. The T83-7, T83-8, and T83-13 could form the basis for the subsequent development of drugs to treat TeNT toxicity.
Topics: Animals; Tetanus Toxin; Tetanus; Antibodies, Neutralizing; Mice; Single-Domain Antibodies; Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; Female; Camelus; Humans; Antibodies, Bacterial; Mice, Inbred BALB C
PubMed: 38934499
DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2024.2366641 -
Clinical Toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.) Jun 2024Cannabis is the most common recreational drug worldwide and synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists are currently the largest group of new psychoactive substances. The...
Clinical effects of cannabis compared to synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs): a retrospective cohort study of presentations with acute toxicity to European hospitals between 2013 and 2020.
INTRODUCTION
Cannabis is the most common recreational drug worldwide and synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists are currently the largest group of new psychoactive substances. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical features and outcomes of lone acute cannabis toxicity with lone acute synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist toxicity in a large series of presentations to European emergency departments between 2013-2020.
METHODS
Self-reported drug exposure, clinical, and outcome data were extracted from the European Drug Emergencies Network Plus which is a surveillance network that records data on drug-related emergency department presentations to 36 centres in 24 European countries. Cannabis exposure was considered the control in all analyses. To compare the lone cannabis and lone synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist groups, univariate analysis using chi squared testing was used for categorical variables and non-parametric Mann-Whitney U- testing for continuous variables. Statistical significance was defined as a value of < 0.05.
RESULTS
Between 2013-2020 there were 54,314 drug related presentations of which 2,657 were lone cannabis exposures and 503 lone synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist exposures. Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist presentations had statistically significantly higher rates of drowsiness, coma, agitation, seizures and bradycardia at the time of presentation. Cannabis presentations were significantly more likely to have palpitations, chest pain, hypertension, tachycardia, anxiety, vomiting and headache.
DISCUSSION
Emergency department presentations involving lone synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist exposures were more likely to have neuropsychiatric features and be admitted to a psychiatric ward, and lone cannabis exposures were more likely to have cardiovascular features. Previous studies have shown variability in the acute toxicity of synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists compared with cannabis but there is little comparative data available on lone exposures. There is limited direct comparison in the current literature between lone synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist and lone cannabis exposure, with only two previous poison centre series and two clinical series. Whilst this study is limited by self-report being used to identify the drug(s) involved in the presentations, previous studies have demonstrated that self-report is reliable in emergency department presentations with acute drug toxicity.
CONCLUSION
This study directly compares presentations with acute drug toxicity related to the lone use of cannabis or synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists. It supports previous findings of increased neuropsychiatric toxicity from synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists compared to cannabis and provides further data on cardiovascular toxicity in lone cannabis use.
PubMed: 38934347
DOI: 10.1080/15563650.2024.2346125 -
China CDC Weekly Jun 2024() is a species of toxic mushroom known to induce symptoms of photosensitive dermatitis.
WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS TOPIC?
() is a species of toxic mushroom known to induce symptoms of photosensitive dermatitis.
WHAT IS ADDED BY THIS REPORT?
In the months of May and June 2023, a total of four patients in Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, were affected by poisoning, occurring over two distinct incidents. The condition of two patients deteriorated after they were re-exposed to sunlight on the seventh day following the initial poisoning. Separately, an additional two patients reported experiencing a mild, needle-like sensation on areas of their skin exposed to the sun, recorded on the twelfth day subsequent to the poisoning.
WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE?
Given that symptoms of photosensitive dermatitis, a potential severe consequence of poisoning, can manifest up to a week post-sun exposure, it is advisable to avoid sunlight for a minimum of two weeks following poisoning.
PubMed: 38934025
DOI: 10.46234/ccdcw2024.091