The fact that hairdressers are exposed to toxic substances through the handling of creams and smoothing products prompted this study whose aim was to quantify the occupational exposure of hairdressers to formaldehyde by comparing the results of exposure for different types of beauty salon. The study population consisted of 23 beauty salons located in the city of Bauru, São Paulo state, Brazil. The samples were collected by inhaled air tests during the most critical 15-min period of the hair straightening procedure and during the 8-h work shift. The concentrations of formaldehyde contained in the formulations of these products were also evaluated and compared with exposure levels. The results were evaluated according to the exposure limits prescribed in Brazilian (NR15) and North American (US OSHA and US NIOSH) standards. The analysis of the smoothing products showed concentrations of formaldehyde of between 3 and 11% in their compositions, i.e., up to 54 times above the 0.2% limit allowed by the National Agency of Sanitary Surveillance (ANVISA). The present study showed that hairdressers are chronically exposed to high concentrations of formaldehyde in the workplace and these exposures are mainly associated with the work process, where many variables of this process influence the intensity of exposure.

In this study, the impact of the curing temperature on leaching behaviour and durability of GGBS-MgO-CaO (GMC)-stabilized/GMC-solidified Pb/Zn-contaminated clay soils was investigated. Toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) test, wetting-drying cycles, freeze-thaw cycles and unconfined compression strength (UCS) test were carried out. The influence of curing temperature, binder dosage and curing time on the performance of these samples was investigated. The results show that the leachability and the durability of all samples were improved by increasing curing temperature, curing time and binder dosage. GMCs are more functional in immobilizing Pb compared with Zn, especially in immobilizing high Pb–contaminated soils. The mass loss and Pb/Zn leachability of all samples increased, while their strength decreased after cyclic wetting-drying and cyclic freeze-thaw. Furthermore, curing at 21 °C and 45 °C, the freeze-thaw resistance of 10% GMC-treated soil (GMC10) was found better than that of 10% Portland cement–treated soil (PC10). After 10 cycles of wetting-drying, GMC10 is more chemically stable than PC10.

This study was conducted to acquire novel insight into differences between bulk (16S rDNA) and metabolically active (16S rRNA) prokaryotic communities in the sediment of a hypereutrophic lake (Japan). In the bulk communities, the class Deltaproteobacteria and the order Methanomicrobiales were dominant among bacteria and methanogens. In the metabolically active communities, the class Alphaproteobacteria and the order Methanomicrobiales and the family Methanosaetaceae were frequently found among bacteria and methanogens. Unlike the bulk communities of prokaryotes, the composition of the metabolically active communities varied remarkably vertically, and their diversities greatly decreased in the lower 20 cm of sediment. The metabolically active prokaryotic community in the sediment core was divided into three sections based on their similarity: 0–6 cm (section 1), 9–18 cm (section 2), and 21–42 cm (section 3). This sectional distribution was consistent with the vertical pattern of the sedimentary stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios and oxidation–reduction potential in the porewater. These results suggest that vertical disturbance of the sediment may influence the communities and functions of metabolically active prokaryotes in freshwater lake sediments. Overall, our results indicate that rRNA analysis may be more effective than rDNA analysis for evaluation of relationships between actual microbial processes and material cycling in lake sediments.

Fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) inhabiting stream sediments have become a concern with regard to recreational and irrigation water quality. Sediments contain higher concentrations of E. coli and other FIB than the overlying water column. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of temperature oscillations on the populations of both E. coli and enterococci in sediments and the water column. The study was conducted in a microcosm system with flow-through chambers representing a small stream with two different sediment textures. Bovine manure was freshly collected and mixed with both clayey and sandy sediment. Temperatures within the chambers oscillated from 17° to 28 °C which is representative of a diurnal summer temperature range for Maryland; the control chambers were kept at 22 °C. The effect of temperature oscillations differed depending on the sediment texture. Bacterial populations in the sandy sediment immediately increased before net die-off began. Conversely, in the chambers with the clayey sediments, there was no immediate increase in concentrations in the oscillation chambers as compared to the controls. There were significantly higher populations of both E. coli and enterococci within the oscillation sandy texture chambers compared to the control constant temperature chambers; that was not the case in the clayey sediment chambers. The die-off rates in the sandy sediments were greater than those in the clayey sediments; in the latter, bacteria populations remained almost constant throughout the experiment. Temperature oscillations should be simulated in experiments designed to estimate and compare inactivation rates for fecal indicator bacteria in sediments for future inferences on microbial water quality.

This study enabled the assessment of indoor CO₂ levels and evaluated the relationship between occupancy numbers with CO₂ levels in a Taiwan hospital. The measurements were conducted over four seasons for five working days (Monday to Friday), with sampling conducted simultaneously from 09:00 am to 5:00 pm and across six locations (for spatial variability): hall (H), registration and cashier (RC), waiting area (WA), occupational therapy room (OT), physical therapy room (PT), and outdoors (O). Based on the analysis, three of the five indoor sampling sites showed significant differences in seasonal CO₂ concentrations (p < 0.0001). Based on our result, the physical therapy room had the highest level of CO₂ concentration that exceeded the IAQ standard in Taiwan Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in all seasons, in that the number of occupants contributing to nearly 40% of the variation in CO₂ measured. Our results also showed that the indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratios of CO₂ concentration for all locations and seasons exceeded 1 in ~ 100% of those locations. The median I/O ratio at sites WA and OT was 2.37 and 2.08 during four seasons, respectively. The highest median I/O ratio was found at site PT, with a calculated range of 2.69 in spring to 3.90 in fall. The highest correlation of occupancy number and CO₂ concentration also occurred in PT which correlation coefficients were estimated at 0.47, 0.65, 0.63, and 0.40 in spring, summer, fall, and winter. The findings of the present study can be used to understand occupancy number and its effect on CO₂ levels in a hospital environment, as well as the effect of time of day (Monday to Friday) on the number of patients admitted.

Malva sylvestris L. is a widely consumed edible-medicinal plant growing all around the world. The aim of our study was the determination of the concentration levels of heavy metals in M. sylvestris L. samples and their extracts from polluted and non-polluted locations in Niš, Republic of Serbia. The analysis of heavy metals was performed by the AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy) method from soil, plants, and extracts. The heavy metals content (Fe, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, and Cd) in the soil and plants from the contaminated site is increased, but the coefficients of metal uptake are not significantly different in plants from polluted and non-polluted areas. The highest content of metals was found in aqueous, then water-alcoholic, and the smallest content was determined in alcoholic solutions. The content of the tested metals is within the limits recommended by international organizations, so the plant and its extracts can be safely used.

The entire Laguna Madre of Tamaulipas is a natural protected area and a Priority Marine Region of Mexico. However, its important biodiversity and high levels of endemism are threatened by the discharge of different pollutants and activities related to the ocean oil and gas industry. Therefore, the assessment of these effects on this marine ecosystem is of paramount importance. At present, the joint approach of monitoring chemical contaminant levels, alongside the use of pollution biomarkers as surrogate measures of biological impact within the environment, provides the better evaluation of the environmental hazard. Within this context, a biomonitoring study using native Chione elevata mussels sampled from four locations along the Mexican Laguna Madre coasts evaluated whether a battery of select biomarkers was suitable for identifying and quantifying pollution-induced stress in mussels. The levels of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), carboxylesterase (CaE), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glutathione s-transferase (GST), and the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) were measured in soft tissues samples. Different metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, and Fe) as well as total heavy hydrocarbons were also determined in sediments. Higher concentrations of metals were observed in sampling localities with marine influence possibly related to the presence of marine grass. The concentration of total heavy hydrocarbons, as expected, was higher in sites with intensive fishing activity. The integrated biomarker response (IBR) and the condition index of mussels allowed discriminating between localities of continental and marine influence, revealing that the sampling stations with continental influence were subjected to a greater stress as a result of anthropogenic effects.

Bio-mix is a fuel derived from the raw mixture of different non-edible oils to enhance the saturation level. In this study, raw oil mixture was transesterified to form bio-mix methyl ester (BMME). Fuel properties of BMME was measured and results showed that saturated fatty acids (SFA), cetane number (CN), and oxidation stability (OS) were increased, whereas density, viscosity, HHV, flash point, iodine number, and acid number were decreased for BMME as compared to individual biodiesels. Brake specific energy consumption (BSEC) of BMME was higher than diesel fuel but similar to individual biodiesel, while brake thermal efficiency (BTE) was lower than diesel fuel but higher than the individual biodiesel. (NOₓ) and CO₂ emission of BMME was found lower (approximately 20%); meanwhile, smoke opacity and CO emission biodiesel increased compared to diesel fuel, whereas (HC) emission of BMME was lower at low load condition but it is increased at high load. Bio-mix fuel could be the good replacement of diesel fuel.

The aim of the study was to determine the effectiveness of soil application of manure, clay, charcoal, zeolite, and calcium oxide in remediation of soil polluted with cobalt (0, 20, 40, 80, 160, 320 mg Co kg⁻¹ of soil). The following were determined: weight of harvested plants as well as the content of cobalt in grain, straw, and roots of oat. In addition, tolerance index (Ti), cobalt bioconcentration (BCF), translocation (TF), and transfer (TFr) coefficients were derived. In the series without amendments, the increasing doses of cobalt had a significant effect by decreasing the yields of oat grain and straw and the mass of its roots. Also, lower tolerance index values were noted in the objects polluted with cobalt, especially with its highest dose. The application of manure had the strongest effect on increasing the mass of particular organs of the test plant, while the application of charcoal led to a significant decrease in this respect. The application of all substances to the soil, and especially manure and calcium oxide, resulted in higher tolerance index Ti values. The growing contamination of soil with cobalt caused a significant increase in the content of this element in oat and in the values of the translocation coefficient, in contrast to the effects noted with respect to the bioconcentration and transfer coefficients. All the substances applied to soil reduced the content of cobalt and its bioconcentration in oat straw, in opposition to grain and roots, limited its translocation, but elevated the transfer of this element from soil to plants. Soil contamination with cobalt promoted the accumulation of lead and copper in grain, cadmium, lead, nickel, zinc, manganese, and iron in straw, as well as cadmium, nickel, zinc, and manganese in oat roots. As the cobalt dose increased, the content of other trace elements in oat organs either decreased or did not show any unambiguous changes. Of all the tested substances, the strongest influence on the content of trace elements was produced by calcium oxide in straw and roots and by zeolite in roots, whereas the weakest effect was generated by manure in oat grain. Oat is not the best plant for phytoremediation of soils contaminated with cobalt.

The pharmaceuticals acetaminophen, sulfamethoxazole, and carbamazepine, and herbicide atrazine are among the most highly manufactured compounds in the world and are frequently detected in the aquatic environment. Much uncertainty exists regarding the impacts of the pharmaceuticals on non-target aquatic resources, while more is known about atrazine. Reduction of residues of each chemical in surface water will reduce the exposures that organisms experience in the surface water environment, thus reducing unknown risks. This project evaluated the potential use of two aquatic plant species (Acorus gramineus and Canna hybrida ‘Orange Punch’) for reducing concentrations of the chemicals in water. Concentrations of each contaminant in solution were reduced in the presence of the plants after 14 days of exposure, in (acetaminophen 64–100%, atrazine 32–51%, carbamazepine 26–49%, sulfamethoxazole 41–60%). Results indicate that these plants have potential for reducing concentrations of these chemicals in surface water, but that plant- and chemical-specific properties prevent making generalizations regarding the extent and pathways for dissipation.