Exploring sources and health risks of metals in Beijing PM2.5: Insights from long-term online measurements

2021 ◽  
pp. 151954
Author(s):  
Xi Yang ◽  
Mei Zheng ◽  
Yue Liu ◽  
Caiqing Yan ◽  
Junyi Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Risks ◽  
Online Measurements

scholarly journals Remediation of mercury-contaminated soils and sediments using biochar: a critical review

Biochar ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian Yang ◽  
Yongjie Wang ◽  
Huan Zhong
Keyword(s):  
Health Risks ◽  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
Functional Materials ◽  
Redox Conditions ◽  
Existing Problems ◽  
Soils And Sediments ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Biochar Amendment

AbstractThe transformation of mercury (Hg) into the more toxic and bioaccumulative form methylmercury (MeHg) in soils and sediments can lead to the biomagnification of MeHg through the food chain, which poses ecological and health risks. In the last decade, biochar application, an in situ remediation technique, has been shown to be effective in mitigating the risks from Hg in soils and sediments. However, uncertainties associated with biochar use and its underlying mechanisms remain. Here, we summarize recent studies on the effects and advantages of biochar amendment related to Hg biogeochemistry and its bioavailability in soils and sediments and systematically analyze the progress made in understanding the underlying mechanisms responsible for reductions in Hg bioaccumulation. The existing literature indicates (1) that biochar application decreases the mobility of inorganic Hg in soils and sediments and (2) that biochar can reduce the bioavailability of MeHg and its accumulation in crops but has a complex effect on net MeHg production. In this review, two main mechanisms, a direct mechanism (e.g., Hg-biochar binding) and an indirect mechanism (e.g., biochar-impacted sulfur cycling and thus Hg-soil binding), that explain the reduction in Hg bioavailability by biochar amendment based on the interactions among biochar, soil and Hg under redox conditions are highlighted. Furthermore, the existing problems with the use of biochar to treat Hg-contaminated soils and sediments, such as the appropriate dose and the long-term effectiveness of biochar, are discussed. Further research involving laboratory tests and field applications is necessary to obtain a mechanistic understanding of the role of biochar in reducing Hg bioavailability in diverse soil types under varying redox conditions and to develop completely green and sustainable biochar-based functional materials for mitigating Hg-related health risks.

Assessment of long-term health risks after accidental exposure using haemoglobin adducts of epichlorohydrin

2014 ◽  
Vol 231 (3) ◽  
pp. 378-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaus-Michael Wollin ◽  
Michael Bader ◽  
Michael Müller ◽  
Werner Lilienblum ◽  
Michael Csicsaky
Keyword(s):  
Health Risks ◽  
Accidental Exposure ◽  
Haemoglobin Adducts

scholarly journals Vaping and subsequent comorbidities potentially associated with increased mortality and more severe illness in COVID-19: a narrative review

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cigarette Smoking ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Older Patients ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Severe Illness ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Cigarette Use

Introduction: COVID-19 (or COVID) is a highly virulent viral disease which more frequently presents severe infection in specific populations, such as the elderly, patients with hypertension, patients with respiratory disease, and patients who smoke. The effects vaping (i.e., an electronic cigarette or JUUL device) has on COVID progression remains unclear, because there is an information paucity correlating e-cigarette use and COVID. This review sought to identify links between vape use and COVID severity via literature review. Additionally, because there is more widespread information about cigarette smoking than about vaping, this review sought to illustrate commonalities between smoking and vaping. If smoking and vaping are deemed near-identical practices, then it is possible the effects of smoking on human health and on COVID disease could be comparable in vaping. Methods: Several searches were performed on PubMed with MeSH headings and JSTOR between 17 December 2020 and 22 December 2020. Search results were excluded if they were not trials or controlled clinical trials, if the articles were not about COVID, if the articles were about smoking behaviors or habits, or if the articles were not related to vaping or smoking. Key findings were summarized and tabled based on relevance, substantiability, and applicability to COVID. Results: Multiple sources viewed smoking and vaping as equal risk factors for COVID disease, whereas other sources viewed the two as unique risk factors. Because of this controversy, it is challenging to view the two practices as similar enough to pose equivalent risks for COVID. Both practices pose significant health risks to its users, but these health risks are unique to each practice. Discussion: There are several limitations which exacerbate ambiguity—(1) it is unclear how harmful smoking is for COVID patients, because several publications found smoking may have protective effects; (2) few older patients vape, but yet most severe COVID cases occur in older populations; (3) older patients and impoverished patients show a statistically significant risk for severe COVID disease independent of other factors; (4) vaping is a relatively new practice, and there are few patients who self-report long-term e-cigarette use or long-term adverse effects as a result thereof. Conclusion: Although vaping may present serious health risks, clinically, it is uncertain how significantly vaping affects COVID disease, especially when compared against cigarette smoking. More research is needed on both the effects of vaping on COVID and the likeness of vaping versus smoking.

scholarly journals Antibiotic Therapy Associated Cardiotoxicity

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (10) ◽  
pp. RV18-RV21
Author(s):  
Manisha Jha ◽  
Akram Khan
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Therapy ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Adverse Reactions ◽  
Therapeutic Agents ◽  
Qt Prolongation ◽  
Aortic Aneurysms ◽  
Drug Reactions ◽  
Frequent Use ◽  
High Concern

The improper and frequent use of antibiotics has been on a rise. Empirical use for unapproved indications leads to development of resistant pathogens. Many other adverse drug reactions are associated with the use of antibiotics. These may be due to the direct effect of these drugs or due to their interactions with other therapeutic agents. Cardiac toxicities like QT prolongation, aortic aneurysms and dissections are of high concern and may result in long-term health risks. To prevent these adverse reactions, antibiotics should be used as per the manufacturer’s and physician’s instructions. The use of interacting drugs should be avoided wherever possible. Polypharmacy practice should be done after considering all the patient’s health aspects. This review summarizes the cardiac toxicities of commonly prescribed antibiotics and their interactions with other drugs.

Managing common problems in the menopause

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 378-386
Author(s):  
Louise Newson ◽  
Nick Panay
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Medical Condition ◽  
Hormone Replacement ◽  
Ovarian Insufficiency ◽  
Life Event ◽  
Common Problems

The menopause is a normal life event for women and not an illness or medical condition. Despite this, menopause can predispose vulnerable women to distressing symptoms that impact adversely on their quality of life and to long term medical conditions such as osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and dementia. Many healthcare professionals are uncertain about the management of the menopause, and this leads to many women not receiving treatment which is often beneficial to them. This article will cover the diagnosis of the menopause including premature ovarian insufficiency. Some of the health risks of the menopause will be discussed and treatment of the menopause, with a particular focus on hormone replacement therapy, will be covered in detail.

WHAT ANATOMIC FEATURES GOVERN PERSONAL LONG-TERM HEALTH RISKS FROM BREAST CANCER RADIOTHERAPY?

2019 ◽  
Vol 186 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 381-385
Author(s):  
Pavel Kundrát ◽  
Cristoforo Simonetto ◽  
Markus Eidemüller ◽  
Julia Remmele ◽  
Hannes Rennau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Individual Risk ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Cancer Radiotherapy ◽  
Breast Cancer Radiotherapy ◽  
Radiation Induced ◽  
Risk Variability ◽  
The Individual

Abstract Breast cancer radiotherapy may in the long term lead to radiation-induced secondary cancer or heart disease. These health risks hugely vary among patients, partially due to anatomy-driven differences in doses deposited to the heart, ipsilateral lung and contralateral breast. We identify four anatomic features that largely cover these dosimetric variations to enable personalized risk estimates. For three exemplary, very different risk scenarios, the given parameter set reproduces 63–74% of the individual risk variability for left-sided breast cancer patients. These anatomic features will be used in the PASSOS software to support decision processes in breast-cancer therapy.

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