scholarly journals Quantification and Characterization of Metals in Ultrafine Road Dust Particles

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 1564
Author(s):  
Suzanne Beauchemin ◽  
Christine Levesque ◽  
Clare L. S. Wiseman ◽  
Pat E. Rasmussen
Keyword(s):  
Ultrafine Particle ◽  
Road Dust ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
Lung Cells ◽  
Particle Size Fractions ◽  
Icp Ms ◽  
Local Roads ◽  
The City

Road dust is an important source of resuspended particulate matter (PM) but information is lacking on the chemical composition of the ultrafine particle fraction (UFP; <0.1 µm). This study investigated metal concentrations in UFP isolated from the “dust box” of sweepings collected by the City of Toronto, Canada, using regenerative-air-street sweepers. Dust box samples from expressway, arterial and local roads were aerosolized in the laboratory and were separated into thirteen particle size fractions ranging from 10 nm to 10 µm (PM10). The UFP fraction accounted for about 2% of the total mass of resuspended PM10 (range 0.23–8.36%). Elemental analysis using ICP-MS and ICP-OES revealed a marked enrichment in Cd, Cr, Zn and V concentration in UFP compared to the dust box material (nano to dust box ratio ≥ 2). UFP from arterial roads contained two times more Cd, Zn and V and nine times more Cr than UFP from local roads. The highest median concentration of Zn was observed for the municipal expressway, attributed to greater volumes of traffic, including light to heavy duty vehicles, and higher speeds. The observed elevated concentrations of transition metals in UFP are a human health concern, given their potential to cause oxidative stress in lung cells.

scholarly journals Genomic investigation of a dengue virus outbreak in Thiès, Senegal, in 2018

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Gaye ◽  
Tolla Ndiaye ◽  
Mouhamad Sy ◽  
Awa B. Deme ◽  
Alphonse B. Thiaw ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
West Africa ◽  
Dengue Virus ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Public Health Concern ◽  
Local Circulation ◽  
Viral Genomes ◽  
Genomic Characterization ◽  
The City

AbstractDengue virus is a major and rapidly growing public health concern in tropic and subtropic regions across the globe. In late 2018, Senegal experienced its largest dengue virus outbreak to date, covering several regions. However, little is known about the genetic diversity of dengue virus (DENV) in Senegal. Here we report complete viral genomes from 17 previously undetected DENV cases from the city of Thiès. In total we identified 19 cases of DENV in a cohort of 198 individuals with fever collected in October and November 2018. We detected 3 co-circulating serotypes; DENV 3 was the most frequent accounting for 11/17 sequences (65%), 4 (23%) were DENV2 and 2 (12%) were DENV1. Sequences were most similar to recent sequences from West Africa, suggesting ongoing local circulation of viral populations; however, detailed inference is limited by the scarcity of available genomic data. We did not find clear associations with reported clinical signs or symptoms, highlighting the importance of testing for diagnosing febrile diseases. Overall, these findings expand the known range of DENV in Senegal, and underscore the need for better genomic characterization of DENV in West Africa.

scholarly journals Molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. in dogs and cats in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, reveals potentially zoonotic species and genotype

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. e0255087
Author(s):  
Amanda Gleyce Lima de Oliveira ◽  
Adriana Pittella Sudré ◽  
Teresa Cristina Bergamo do Bomfim ◽  
Helena Lúcia Carneiro Santos
Keyword(s):  
Diarrheal Disease ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Protozoan Parasite ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Fecal Samples ◽  
Glycoprotein Gene ◽  
Low Prevalence ◽  
The City

Intestinal cryptosporidiosis is a diarrheal disease caused by protists of genus Cryptosporidium that infect a wide variety of hosts, primarily vertebrates. Due to the close contact between humans and their companion animals, especially dogs and cats, there is concern about the potential for zoonotic transmission of this enteric protozoan parasite by infected animals. This study aimed to perform a microscopic and molecular diagnosis of Cryptosporidium spp. in fecal samples from domiciled dogs and cats. One hundred and nineteen fecal samples were processed using sugar centrifugal flotation followed by molecular detection of Cryptosporidium spp. DNA using nested PCR. Subtyping of isolates positive for C. parvum was performed by sequence analysis of the 60 kDa glycoprotein gene (GP60). Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected in 7.8% (5/64) and 5.4% (3/55) of the fecal samples from dogs and cats, respectively. Cryptosporidium canis (n = 3) and C. parvum (n = 2) were the main species found in dogs, whereas C. felis (n = 3) was prevalent in cats. Subtype IIaA17G2R2 (potentially zoonotic) was identified in samples positive for C. parvum. Despite the low prevalence of Cryptosporidium observed in the domiciled dogs and cats, the presence of potentially zoonotic C. parvum in dogs evidences a public health concern. Further research is needed to better understand the epidemiology, source, and potential impacts of Cryptosporidium infection in cats and dogs.

scholarly journals Genomic investigation of a dengue virus outbreak in Thiès, Senegal, in 2018

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Gaye ◽  
Tolla Ndiaye ◽  
Mouhamad Sy ◽  
Awa B. Deme ◽  
Alphonse B. Thiaw ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
West Africa ◽  
Dengue Virus ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Metagenomic Sequencing ◽  
Local Circulation ◽  
Genomic Characterization ◽  
Virus Genomes ◽  
The City

AbstractDengue virus is a major and rapidly growing public health concern in tropic and subtropic regions across the globe. In late 2018, Senegal experienced its largest dengue virus outbreak to date, covering several regions. However, little is known about the genetic diversity of dengue virus (DENV) in Senegal. Here we used molecular tools including metagenomic sequencing to identify 19 previously undetected dengue virus cases from the city of Thiès and assemble 17 complete virus genomes. DENV3 was the most frequent serotype; 11 sequences (65%) were DENV3, 4 sequences were DENV2 and 2 were DENV1. Sequences were closest to recent sequences from West Africa, suggesting ongoing local circulation of viral populations; however, detailed inference is limited by the scarcity of available genomic data. We did not find clear associations with reported clinical signs or symptoms, highlighting the importance of testing for diagnosing febrile diseases. Overall, these findings expand the known range of DENV in Senegal, and underscore the need for better genomic characterization of DENV in West Africa.

Application of solid-phase immune electron microscopy to study physical and stability characteristics of enterically transmitted non-a, non-b hepatitis virus

1988 ◽  
Vol 46 ◽  
pp. 80-81
Author(s):  
Charles D. Humphrey ◽  
E. H. Cook ◽  
Karen A. McCaustland ◽  
Daniel W. Bradley
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Hepatitis A ◽  
Hepatitis A Virus ◽  
Solid Phase ◽  
Etiologic Agent ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Morphological Identification ◽  
Immune Electron Microscopy

Enterically transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis (ET-NANBH) is a type of hepatitis which is increasingly becoming a significant world health concern. As with hepatitis A virus (HAV), spread is by the fecal-oral mode of transmission. Until recently, the etiologic agent had not been isolated and identified. We have succeeded in the isolation and preliminary characterization of this virus and demonstrating that this agent can cause hepatic disease and seroconversion in experimental primates. Our characterization of this virus was facilitated by immune (IEM) and solid phase immune electron microscopic (SPIEM) methodologies.Many immune electron microscopy methodologies have been used for morphological identification and characterization of viruses. We have previously reported a highly effective solid phase immune electron microscopy procedure which facilitated identification of hepatitis A virus (HAV) in crude cell culture extracts. More recently we have reported utilization of the method for identification of an etiologic agent responsible for (ET-NANBH).

Evaluation of Road Utilisation as Space For Holding Social Ceremonies in Indigenous Residential Area of Ogbomoso, Nigeria

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (March 2018) ◽  
Author(s):  
S.A Okanlawon ◽  
O.O Odunjo ◽  
S.A Olaniyan
Keyword(s):  
Transport Infrastructure ◽  
Noisy Environment ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Core ◽  
Local Roads ◽  
Strict Enforcement ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The One ◽  
The City ◽  
The Town

This study examined Residents’ evaluation of turning transport infrastructure (road) to spaces for holding social ceremonies in the indigenous residential zone of Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria. Upon stratifying the city into the three identifiable zones, the core, otherwise known as the indigenous residential zone was isolated for study. Of the twenty (20) political wards in the two local government areas of the town, fifteen (15) wards that were located in the indigenous zone constituted the study area. Respondents were selected along one out of every three (33.3%) of the Trunk — C (local) roads being the one mostly used for the purpose in the study area. The respondents were the residents, commercial motorists, commercial motorcyclists, and celebrants. Six hundred and forty-two (642) copies of questionnaire were administered and harvested on the spot. The Mean Analysis generated from the respondents’ rating of twelve perceived hazards listed in the questionnaire were then used to determine respondents’ most highly rated perceived consequences of the practice. These were noisy environment, Blockage of drainage by waste, and Endangering the life of the sick on the way to hospital; the most highly rated reasons why the practice came into being; and level of acceptability of the practice which was found to be very unacceptable in the study area. Policy makers should therefore focus their attention on strict enforcement of the law prohibiting the practice in order to ensure more cordial relationship among the citizenry, seeing citizens’ unacceptability of the practice in the study area.

Characterization of Different Types of Biomass Wastes Using Thermogravimetric and ICP-MS Analyses

2020 ◽  
Vol 70 (12) ◽  
pp. 4594-4600
Keyword(s):  
Thermogravimetric Analysis ◽  
Food Industry ◽  
Wood Waste ◽  
Biomass Ash ◽  
Minor Elements ◽  
Ms Analysis ◽  
Icp Ms ◽  
Different Types

The purpose of this study was to characterize some types of biomass wastes resulted from different activities such as: agriculture, forestry and food industry using thermogravimetric and ICP-MS analyses. Also, it was optimized an ICP-MS method for the determination of As, Cd and Pb from biomass ash samples. The ICP-MS analysis revealed that the highest concentration of metals (As, Cd, Pb) was recorded in the wood waste ash sample, also the thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the highest amount of ash was obtained for the same sample (26.82%). The biomass wastes mentioned in this study are alternative recyclable materials, reusable as pellets and briquettes. Keywords: ash, biomass, ICP-MS, minor elements, TG

PHYTOMONITORING AS A METOD OF THE ASSESSMENT OF ATMOSPHERIC AIR POLLUTION BY URBAN ENVIRONMENT BY FINE DUST

2019 ◽  
pp. 42-53
Author(s):  
Irina Glinyanova ◽  
Valery Azarov ◽  
Valery Fomichev
Keyword(s):  
Urban Environment ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Fine Particles ◽  
Prunus Armeniaca ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
Fine Dust ◽  
Control Zone ◽  
Atmospheric Air ◽  
Random Functions ◽  
The City

Fine dust: (PM2.5, PM10) is a priority pollutant that contributes to the development of numerous dis-eases in urban areas. The purpose of this scientific work is to study the dispersed composition of dust parti-cles on the leaves of apricot trees (Prúnus armeníaca) in the residential zone of Volgograd. The novelty of the work lies in the study of the dispersed composition of dust particles on the leaves of apricot trees (Prúnus armeníaca) in the residential zone in the city of Volgograd near the construction industry enterprise, me-chanical engineering, leather production and railway transport line in comparison with the conditionally clean (control) zone of the SNT “Orocenets” ”(Sovetsky District, Volgograd) from the standpoint of random functions expressed by integral distribution curves of the mass of particles over their equivalent diameters. As a result of the research, the dispersed composition of dust on the leaves of apricot trees (Prúnus ar-meníaca) in the residential area of Volgograd was revealed. Fine particles were found: PM2.5, PM10 in each of the studied points, which by their values, both in their number and mass fraction, significantly exceed the data on fine dust in a conditionally clean area (control) in the SNT “Oroshanets” (Sovetsky district Volgo-grad), which creates certain environmental risks for local residents. The dispersed analysis of particles from the standpoint of random functions in the future will allow with a sufficiently high degree of accuracy to pre-dict the dust content of urban atmospheric air in the range of monthly and / or seasonal average values compared to the traditional measurement of fine dust concentration in atmospheric air of the urban environ-ment as the maximum single or daily average. At the same time, further studies of dust on the leaves of plants in an urban environment, namely, the study of the density of its sedimentation, will also reveal a group of ur-ban plants that are best suited to retain PM2.5 and PM10 on leaf plates in this region, which can significantly increase the quality of the atmospheric air of the urban environment and be of a recommendatory nature for the state-owned landscaping services of the city of Volgograd when improving the green areas of a megacity.

scholarly journals Will Households Invest in Safe Sanitation? Results from an Experimental Demand Trial in Nakuru, Kenya

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 4462
Author(s):  
Rachel Peletz ◽  
Caroline Delaire ◽  
Joan Kones ◽  
Clara MacLeod ◽  
Edinah Samuel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Market Prices ◽  
Price Point ◽  
Improved Sanitation ◽  
Sanitation Infrastructure ◽  
The City ◽  
Experimental Demand

Unsafe sanitation is an increasing public health concern for rapidly expanding cities in low-income countries. Understanding household demand for improved sanitation infrastructure is critical for planning effective sanitation investments. In this study, we compared the stated and revealed willingness to pay (WTP) for high-quality, pour-flush latrines among households in low-income areas in the city of Nakuru, Kenya. We found that stated WTP for high-quality, pour-flush latrines was much lower than market prices: less than 5% of households were willing to pay the full costs, which we estimated between 87,100–82,900 Kenyan Shillings (KES), or 871–829 USD. In addition, we found large discrepancies between stated and revealed WTP. For example, 90% of households stated that they would be willing to pay a discounted amount of 10,000 KES (100 USD) for a high-quality, pour-flush latrine, but only 10% of households redeemed vouchers at this price point (paid via six installment payments). Households reported that financial constraints (i.e., lack of cash, other spending priorities) were the main barriers to voucher redemption, even at highly discounted prices. Our results emphasize the importance of financial interventions that address the sizable gaps between the costs of sanitation products and customer demand among low-income populations.

scholarly journals Geochemical Mapping, Risk Assessment, and Source Identification of Heavy Metals in Road Dust Using Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF)

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 614
Author(s):  
Muhammad Faisal ◽  
Zening Wu ◽  
Huiliang Wang ◽  
Zafar Hussain ◽  
Chenyang Shen
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Matrix Factorization ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Contamination Factor ◽  
Road Dust ◽  
Positive Matrix Factorization ◽  
Prevention Measures ◽  
Positive Matrix ◽  
The City

Heavy metals in road dust pose a significant threat to human health. This study investigated the concentrations, patterns, and sources of eight hazardous heavy metals (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Pb, and Hg) in the street dust of Zhengzhou city of PR China. Fifty-eight samples of road dust were analyzed based on three methods of risk assessment, i.e., Geo-Accumulation Index (Igeo), Potential Ecological Risk Assessment (RI), and Nemerow Synthetic Pollution Index (PIN). The results exhibited higher concentrations of Hg and Cd 14 and 7 times higher than their background values, respectively. Igeo showed the risks of contamination in a range of unpolluted (Cr, Ni) to strongly polluted (Hg and Cd) categories. RI came up with the contamination ranges from low (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, and Pb) to extreme (Cd and Hg) risk of contamination. The risk of contamination based on PIN was from safe (Cu, As, and Pb) to seriously high (Cd and Hg). The results yielded by PIN indicated the extreme risk of Cd and Hg in the city. Positive Matrix Factorization was used to identify the sources of contamination. Factor 1 (vehicular exhaust), Factor 2 (coal combustion), Factor 3 (metal industry), and Factor 4 (anthropogenic activities), respectively, contributed 14.63%, 35.34%, 36.14%, and 13.87% of total heavy metal pollution. Metal’s presence in the dust is a direct health risk for humans and warrants immediate and effective pollution control and prevention measures in the city.

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