Microplastics pollution in salt pans from the Maheshkhali Channel, Bangladesh

Microplastics (MP) were recognized as an emergent pollution problem due to their ubiquitous nature and bioaccumulative potential. Those present in salt for consumption could represent a human exposure route through dietary uptake. The current study, conducted in Bangladesh, reports microplastics contamination in coarse salt prepared for human consumption. Sea salt samples were collected from eight representative salt pans located in the country's largest salt farming area, in the Maheshkhali Channel, along the Bay of Bengal. Microplastics were detected in all samples, with mean concentrations ranging from 78 ± 9.33 to 137 ± 21.70 particles kg−1, mostly white and ranging in size from 500–1000 µm. The prevalent types were: fragments (48%) > films (22%) > fibers (15%) > granules and lines (both 9%). Fourier transform mid-IR and near-IR spectra (FT-MIR-NIR) analysis registered terephthalate (48%), polypropylene (20%), polyethylene (17%), and polystyrene (15%) in all samples. These results contribute to the MP's pollution knowledge in sea salts to understand and reduce this significant human exposure route and environmental pollution source in the future.

Liver-Based Probabilistic Risk Assessment of Exposure to Organophosphate Esters via Dust Ingestion Using a Physiologically Based Toxicokinetic (PBTK) Model

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are widely used and harmful to organisms and human health. Dust ingestion is an important exposure route for OPEs to humans. In this study, by integrating ToxCast high-throughput in vitro assays with in vitro to in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE) via physiologically based Toxicokinetic (PBTK) modeling, we assessed the hepatocyte-based health risk for humans around the world due to exposure to two typical OPEs (TPHP and TDCPP) through the dust ingestion exposure route. Results showed that the health guidance value of TPHP and TCDPP obtained in this study was lower than the value obtained through animal experiments. In addition, probabilistic risk assessment results indicate that populations worldwide are at low risk of exposure to TPHP and TDCPP through dust ingestion due to low estimated daily intakes (EDIs) which are much lower than the reference dose (RfDs) published by the US EPA, except in some regional cases. Most margin of exposure (MOE) ranges of TDCPP for children are less than 100, which indicates a moderately high risk. Researchers should be concerned about exposure to TDCPP in this area. The method proposed in this study is expected to be applied to the health risk assessment of other chemicals.

Sublethal Impacts of Novaluron on Tarnished Plant Bug (Hemiptera: Miridae) Adults

Tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris Palisot de Beauvois (Hemiptera: Miridae), has become a primary pest of cotton in the Midsouthern United States. Insect growth regulators such as novaluron are an important part of L. lineolaris management. While novaluron is lethal to nymphs, it does not kill adults, so it has been used when nymphs are the primary stage present. However, cotton yield protection was observed from an application of novaluron when adults were the predominant stage present. To explain this, a series of studies were conducted to examine sublethal impacts of novaluron to L. lineolaris adults. Novaluron ingestion by adults reduced hatch rate and sometimes reduced oviposition rate. Ingestion by either males or females reduced hatch rates, but the reduction was greater from female exposure. Contact exposure of adults with novaluron residues within 1 d of application reduced hatch rate by about 50%, but the impact on oviposition was inconsistent. A field study showed reduced hatch rate from contact exposure to mixed-age natural populations, but the overall net reproductive rate was not reduced. Surface exposure of eggs to novaluron did not reduce hatch rate. Overall, exposure of tarnished plant bug adults to novaluron, regardless of adult age or exposure route, reduced egg viability. However, the impact on oviposition rate and net reproductive rate varied with adult age and exposure route. This understanding of sublethal impacts of novaluron, in addition to lethal impacts on nymphs, should be considered when choosing application times to maximize effects on L. lineolaris populations.

The Impact of Route Choice on Active Commuters' Exposure to Air Pollution: A Systematic Review

As air pollution varies significantly in both space and time, commuter exposure may differ considerably depending on the route taken between home to work. This is especially the case for active mode commuters who often have a wider range of route choices available to them compared with those traveling by private motor vehicle or by public transport. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of route choice on air pollution exposure among active commuters, and to estimate, based on modeling, the health benefits able to be achieved from air pollution exposure reductions, modeled across a population, through route optimization. We searched for studies that used portable personal air pollution monitoring equipment during active mode commuting, and reported measurements of air quality on at least two routes, either as a journey to work or to school. The World Health Organization (WHO) model AirQ+ was then exploited to estimate the premature deaths attributable to air pollution according to route choice. Ten publications were identified that met the inclusion criteria. Ultrafine particle counts (UFP), black carbon (BC), and carbon monoxide (CO) were the most commonly measured pollutants in the studies identified. The exposures associated with “high exposure” and “low exposure” routes (categorized based on differences in traffic counts on the roads along the commute route or walking on opposite sides of the road with different levels of traffic traveling in each direction) were found to vary on average by 30 ± 8%, 42 ± 35%, and 55 ± 17% for BC, CO and UFP, respectively. On the basis of modeling, and on the estimated exposures to BC, up to 36 out of 10,000 deaths could be prevented by choosing a low exposure route compared with a high exposure route during active commuting. The results of this study may be useful for both individuals in their commute planning, and also for urban transport planners as impetus for investing in infrastructure to support healthy active mode commuting.

Tweets About Acute Nicotine Toxicity Due to e-Liquid Exposure

Objectives: Intentional and unintentional exposures to electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) e-liquids can cause illness and death. In this study, we describe acute nicotine toxicity due to e-liquid exposure (ANTEE) information found on Twitter and contextualize ANTEE experiences to clarify conditions associated with exposure. Methods: We obtained 20,180 ANTEE- relevant tweets from 2013-2018. We excluded retweets, suspected bots, non-English tweets, tweets not originating in the US, and advertisements. We coded relevant tweets qualitatively using domains for e-liquid exposure tweets and e-liquid-related non-exposure tweets (ie, posts reflecting hypothetical exposure, information about e-liquids). Results: Content analyses were based on 1656 e-liquid exposure tweets and 1210 non-exposure tweets. More than half of exposure tweets (61.3%) were classified as accidental exposures; subjects were predominately young people, assumed to be under age 18 (40.5%), and self (27.7%). The most common exposure route was ingestion (61.1%). Of exposure tweets, 13.9% described health effects and 12.7% described seeking assistance. Most non-exposure tweets were classified as likely or hypothetical exposure (49.9%) or presentation of advice, information, or warnings (40.5%). Conclusions: Tweets can serve as a novel and complementary data source for learning more about e-liquid exposures.

Calls to a State Poison Center Concerning Cleaners and Disinfectants From the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic Through April 2020

An increased use of disinfectants during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may increase the number of adverse health effects among people who apply them or among those who are in the area being disinfected. For the 3-month period from January 1 to March 30, 2020, the number of calls about exposure to cleaners and disinfectants made to US poison centers in all states increased 20.4%, and the number of calls about exposure to disinfectants increased 16.4%. We examined calls about cleaners and disinfectants to the Michigan Poison Center (MiPC) since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. We compared all calls related to exposure to cleaners or disinfectants, calls with symptoms, and calls in which a health care provider was seen during the first quarters of 2019 and 2020 and in relationship to key COVID-19 dates. From 2019 to 2020, the number of all disinfectant calls increased by 42.8%, the number of calls with symptoms increased by 57.3%, the average number of calls per day doubled after the first Michigan COVID-19 case, from 4.8 to 9.0, and the proportion of calls about disinfectants among all exposure calls to the MiPC increased from 3.5% to 5.0% ( P < .001). Calls for exposure to cleaners did not increase significantly. Exposure occurred at home for 94.8%97.1% of calls, and ingestion was the exposure route for 59.7% of calls. Information about the adverse health effects of disinfectants and ways to minimize exposure should be included in COVID-19 pandemic educational materials.