Currently, several news channels and research publications have highlighted the dilemma of arsenic (As)-contaminated groundwater in Pakistan. However, there is lack of data regarding groundwater As content of various areas in Pakistan. The present study evaluated As contamination and associated health risks in previously unexplored groundwater of Hasilpur-Pakistan. Total of 61 groundwater samples were collected from different areas (rural and urban), sources (electric pump, hand pump, and tubewell) and depths (35–430 ft or 11–131 m). The water samples were analyzed for As level and other parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, cations, and anions. It was found that 41% (25 out of 61) water samples contained As (≥ 5 μg/L). Out of 25 As-contaminated water samples, 13 water samples exceeded the permissible level of WHO (10 μg/L). High As contents have been found in tubewell samples and at high sampling depths (> 300 ft). The major As-contaminated groundwater in Hasilpur is found in urban areas. Furthermore, health risk and cancer risk due to As contamination were also assessed with respect to average daily dose (ADD), hazard quotient (HQ), and carcinogenic risk (CR). The values of HQ and CR of As in Hasilpur were up to 58 and 0.00231, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed a positive correlation between groundwater As contents, pH, and depth in Hasilpur. The current study proposed the proper monitoring and management of well water in Hasilpur to minimize the As-associated health hazards.

The investigation of municipal solid waste (MSW) treatment in China is rare due to its sensitivity and difficulty in terms of access. We chose Beijing, the capital of China, as an example to identify the characteristics of MSW landfill treatments using a 2-month investigation with 20 participants. MSW landfill treatments account for nearly 70% of the annual MSW disposal in Beijing; the landfill processes are equipped with many kinds of technologies and consume a large amount of energy and produce a variety of contaminants. The cover method (the most obvious difference in landfill tamping) mainly includes high-density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembranes with loess and soil alone (i.e., loess or sandy soil). We investigated the actual conditions of landfills and collected data on leachate and landfill gas (LFG) emissions and energy consumption during 2009–2011. The results indicated that the cover method employed by landfills was related to treatment quantity, operation, and especially landfill location. Early large-scale landfills located in plains were covered with HDPE geomembranes, and newly built landfills covered with soil tended to be equipped with HDPE covers. Using HDPE cover also contributed greatly to LFG production due to its impermeability but had no remarkable effect on leachate yield reduction due to the dry climate in Beijing. The potential was reinforced by the potentials of decrement and reuse. The disposal method of LFG can be optimized, and the power generated by the LFG process can meet the landfill demand. The gray water recycled from the leachate could be used in the landfill process.

The study was conducted to investigate the liver toxicity in female offspring mice induced by maternal exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Fifty pregnant Kunming mice were randomly divided into 5 groups with 10 of each, which were treated with 0.2 mL PFOA solution dissolved with deionized water at 0, 1, 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg BW, respectively, from the pregnancy day (PND) 0 to day 17. Female offspring mice were sacrificed to collect serum and liver at postpartum day 21. The results showed that PFOA significantly reduced the body weight at weaning and the survival rate of the female offspring mice (P < 0.01) increased the liver index of the pups (P < 0.01). Meanwhile, PFOA also caused hepatic bleeding, local necrosis, and enlargement of hepatocytes and vacuolization. The levels of serum AST, ALT, SOD, and CAT in PFOA treatment group were upregulated significantly (P < 0.01). The expressions of Acot1, Acox1, and Acsl1 genes were increased significantly (P < 0.01). The expression of PPAR-α gene was decreased significantly (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the expression of Cpt1a gene among the 5 groups. HAT activity was reduced significantly and HDAC activity was increased significantly. The expression of anti-acetyl-histone H3 and acetyl-histone H4 was reduced significantly. Thus, our findings indicate that exposure to PFOA during pregnancy affects the growth and development of the pups and causes liver damage, disrupting the secretion of enzymes involved in fatty acid oxidation induced by PPAR-α, leading to liver oxidative stress and a decrease in the degree of histone acetylation. Elevated HDAC may aggravate downstream fatty acid metabolism disorders through PPAR-α.

Through a variety of media formats, the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) has served as a valuable communication tool for the general Canadian population for several years. This index, calculated and communicated to the public on an hourly basis, is designed to provide important information on the impact of air quality on health. This presentation outlines the association between AQHI values and, for the first time, all-cause emergency department (ED) visits (over one million diagnosed ED visits). It is assumed that a higher AQHI value, reflecting increased health risk, will encourage people to take steps to reduce their exposure, by limiting the duration and intensity of outdoor activity. The case-crossover methodology was used to assess the associations between the considered exposure and ED visits. The results, the estimated odds ratios, are presented as non-linear concentration-response functions. We argue that air health effects, measured as the total number of all-cause ED visits, are related to the values of the AQHI. We postulate that there are differences in this association between males and females, possibly due to gender-specific behavior and/or health conditions.

In this work, a new type of advanced 3D mesoporous carbon nanocomposites derived from Zn dust/PET bottle mixed waste with a high surface area is created. Interestingly, simultaneous transformation of Zn metal into ZnO nanoparticles and PET bottle waste to porous carbon materials occurred upon thermal treatment at 700 °C. The effect of the amount of Zn metal on the prepared materials has been studied. The carbon material-based waste presented very large surface area (up to 684.5 m²/g) with pore size distribution (18.47–16.88 nm). The SEM and TEM analysis revealed that the produced carbon materials have 3D porous dense layers with a gradient pore structure. The created waste-based nanocomposite exhibited an enhanced photocatalytic performance for the degradation of organic dyes (methylene blue and malachite green). It is believed that the presented work not only provides a sustainable approach to the creation of new nanocomposites of ZnO-mesoporous carbon materials for the application in photocatalysis but also introduces a new way of upcycling of mixed waste materials.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical found in environmental xenoestrogen. In the present study, olive oil, curcumin, taurine, BPA, curcumin plus BPA, and taurine plus BPA were exposed to rats for 4 weeks via gavage. Content of malondialdehyde and activities of antioxidant enzymes (GPx, GST, SOD, CAT) and also histopathological and cytopathological changes of heart were studied. No significant changes in all studied parameters were seen between control, olive oil, curcumin, and taurine-treated groups. However, there were significant differences in levels of malondialdehyde and activities of antioxidant enzymes in BPA-exposed rats and some histo/cytopathological changes determined. In curcumin plus BPA-exposed and taurine plus BPA-exposed groups, we measured the preventive effects on some parameters but not exactly. As a result, curcumin and taurine significantly minimized BPA-induced cardiotoxicity in rats.

Transported desert dust particles (TDDP) are soil particles suspended in the air. Being spread all over the globe by the winds, TDDP affect animals, including humans, plants and other organisms not only in the areas of their emission. In humans, TDDP are responsible for diseases of the respiratory (e.g. asthma) and circulatory (e.g. heart failure) systems and they also act directly on the epithelium and its mucus layer after deposition in the mouth and respiratory system. The aim of the study was to determine the influence of TDDP on the rheology of mucus and saliva, and thus on their functioning. The artificial mucus and saliva, as well as Arizona TDDP, were used in experiments. The rheological properties of TDDP were determined with the use of an oscillatory rheometer, at various temperatures and in the presence of different amount of TDDP. Moreover, the diffusion time of the marker (rhodamine B) throughout mucus with desert dust particles was examined. The obtained results demonstrate that the presence of TDDP in the saliva and mucus model increases their apparent viscosity. The concentration of particles is positively correlated with the increase of viscosity. However, it has not been demonstrated that the presence of TDDP in mucus significantly influenced the diffusion of a fluorescent marker throughout the mucus. The presence of TDDP in the saliva and mucus may interfere with their moisturising function, and cause difficulties in swallowing by increasing the viscosity of mucus and saliva. Moreover, increased viscosity of mucus may cause problems with its ability to pass to the upper respiratory tracts, which may lead to a general discomfort or local inflammation.

Spotted bollworm, Earias vittella, is one of the most serious and devastating insect pests of vegetables and cotton. Currently, insecticides are necessary for its control in nearly all crop systems. In this paper, we evaluate the sub-lethal effects of lufenuron on biological traits and activity of detoxification enzymes: cytochrome P450 monooxygenases, esterase, and glutathione S-transeferase (GST) in second instar larvae of E. vittella. Results showed that sub-lethal concentrations (LC₁₅ and LC₄₀ of lufenuron), prolonged larval period (at LC₄₀ = 13.86 ± 1.22 day, LC₁₅ = 13.14 ± 1.15 day, control = 12.28 ± 0.7), pupal duration (LC₄₀ = 11.1 ± day, LC₁₅ = 11.8 ± 0.28 day, control = 9.40 ± 0.52), and extended mean generation time (LC₄₀ = 27.3 ± 0.43 LC₁₅ = 29.0 ± 1.19 day, control = 26.0 ± 0.65). Sub-lethal exposure significantly prolonged the pre-adult stage, decreased pupal weight, and reduced adult longevity in the parent (F₀) and F₁ generation. Moreover, the fecundity and egg viability were significantly lowered in parental and F₁ generations at both sub-lethal concentrations compared to the control. While no significant effects were noted on reproductive parameters such as the intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ), and net reproduction rate (R₀) of F₁ generation when compared to the control. Only mean generation time (T) in F₁ at LC₁₅ was significantly longer compared to the LC₄₀ and control (LC₄₀ = 3.79 ± 0.37, LC₁₅ = 32.28 ± 1.55 day, control = 29.79 ± 0.55). Comparatively, the activities of cytochrome P450 monooxygenases and esterase were higher than GST in treated populations. The increase in resistance development against insecticides may possibly because of elevated activity of detoxification enzymes. These results provide useful information for monitoring resistance in integrated pest management (IPM) programs for E. vittella.

The comparative anticoccidial effects of herbal products with a standard synthetic anticoccidial drug on the production performance, intestinal histology, and some blood biochemical parameters in broilers exposed to experimental coccidiosis was investigated. One-day-old broiler chicks (n = 336) were randomly distributed into six groups. One group served as a control, the second was treated with the coccidial infection, the third was treated with synthetic anticoccidial drug (Elancoban), the fourth group was treated with an herbal product (Cozante), the fifth group of birds was treated with Norponin, and the sixth group was treated with Emanox. The results indicated that BWG, BW, FCR, and PEF decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in the positive control. Body weight gain, BW, and PEF were significantly (P < 0.01) high in Elancoban-treated birds. On day 25, lesion score was significantly (P < 0.01) low in duodenum, jejunum, and ceca in Elancoban-treated birds control. On day 30, lesion score was significantly (P < 0.05) low in Emanox-treated birds as compared with the positive control. Albumin concentration was significantly (P < 0.01) low in Emanox while glucose concentration was significantly (P < 0.01) high in all the treated groups compared with the positive control birds. The total antioxidant capacity was significantly (P < 0.05) high in Emanox on day 15 and 30 as compared with the positive control. The results showed that birds exposed to the natural anticoccidial products showed improved villi and total antioxidant capacity. We concluded that herbal products performed better than the positive control group.

Rotenone (ROT) was shown to affect cerebral ganglions (CGs) of Lumbricus terrestris as a pioneering observation in our earlier investigation. Though ROT is a well-known neurotoxin causing neurodegeneration (ND), the precipitation of movement dysfunction remains largely unknown. We have designed the current study to analyze motor abnormalities in worms by exposing them to different concentrations (0.0–0.4 ppm) of ROT for 7 days. GABA, cholinergic receptor, serotonin transporter (SERT), acetylcholine esterase (AchE), and dopamine–β-hydroxylase that are well known for their involvement in neuromuscular junctions were investigated by qRT-PCR. Further, neuronal mitochondrial genes (cytochrome C oxidase-2, NADH deydrogenase-1, cytochrome-b) and actin-1 that are essential for regeneration and calreticulin (phagocytosis) were investigated. The levels of neurotransmitters, lipids, ATPase, neuronal behavior analyses, and fluorescence analysis (lipid droplets) were performed in CGs which showed significant variations at 0.3 ppm. Ultrastructural changes in lipid droplet and neuromelatonin were prominent in 0.3 ppm. Dose-dependent effect of ROT on behavior alteration and expression of m-RNAs studied suggested that at 0.3 ppm, it could deteriorate motor and cognitive functions. We predict that perhaps, by virtue of its effect on cerebral ganglionic genes and their neurotransmitting potential, ROT may cause morbidities that resemble features characteristic of hemiparkinsonic degeneration.