Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

J Hazard Mater 2021 May 8;417:125975. Epub 2021 May 8.

Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Micro & Nano Materials Interface Science, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, PR China. Electronic address:

Mercury (Hg) is one of the most hazardous pollutants, widely distributed in water, atmosphere, and soil, while the Hg contents from different sources are greatly different. Until now, numerous reported methods are only suitable for a kind of sample because they cannot reconcile sensitivity and linear range. In this work, a tail-extensible DNA fluorescent probe for "turn on" detection of Hg with tunable dynamic range and high sensitivity was developed, which was based on segmental hybridization between silver nanoclusters (AgNCs)-covered DNA and different guanine-rich DNAs. Read More

Chemosphere 2021 May 10;281:130836. Epub 2021 May 10.

State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China; Advanced Interdisciplinary Institute of Environment and Ecology, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai, 519087, China.

In this study, 26 surface seawater samples, 26 surface sediment samples and 114 organisms were collected to study the trophic transfer and dietary exposure risk of mercury (Hg) in organisms from the Jiaozhou Bay, which is a typical semi-enclosed urbanized bay. The total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations did not exceed the threshold limits and performed as: fish > crustaceans > mollusks. The trophic level values (TLs) were less than 3 in all the groups, indicating simple structure of food chain. Read More

Aquat Toxicol 2021 Apr 28;236:105844. Epub 2021 Apr 28.

Molecular and Analytical Laboratory Center, Department of Food Technology, Faculty of Veterinary, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, 24230-340, Brazil; Chemistry Institute, Food Science Program, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-909, Brazil; National Institute of Health Quality Control, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil.

Guanabara Bay (GB) is an estuary in Brazil, constantly the target of pollutants, such as mercury (Hg). Thus, our study aimed to evaluate (i) total mercury (THg) content in shrimp and squid species from GB; (ii) associate THg content to contamination in swimming crabs; (iii) explore potential differences between species, and size; (iv) correlate abiotic water data to the determined THg contents; (v) verify if Hg concentrations are below acceptable limits. Swimming crabs showed greater Hg contamination compared to other species. Read More

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2021 May 15. Epub 2021 May 15.

Postgraduate Program in Biosciences and Physiopathology, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil.

This is a cross-sectional study with data and biological material collection from vineyard farmers in southern Brazil. An interview was carried out through a questionnaire developed according to the reference guide of the state government. Plasma and urine samples were screened for Aluminum, Chromium, Manganese, Copper, Nickel, Cobalt, Zinc, Arsenic, Selenium, Cadmium, Antimony, Barium, Mercury, Lead and Uranium, with a technique for fast determination of these elemental contents in biological material utilizing dynamic reaction cell inductively coupled mass spectrometry. Read More

Mol Neurobiol 2021 May 14. Epub 2021 May 14.

Laboratório de Farmacologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, 66075-110, Brazil.

Intoxication by heavy metals such as methylmercury (MeHg) is recognized as a global health problem, with strong implications in central nervous system pathologies. Most of these neuropathological conditions involve vascular, neurotransmitter recycling, and oxidative balance disruption leading to accelerated decline in fine balance, and learning, memory, and visual processes as main outcomes. Besides neurons, astrocytes are involved in virtually all the brain processes and perform important roles in neurological response following injuries. Read More

Environ Pollut 2021 May 6;286:117317. Epub 2021 May 6.

State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou, 730000, China.

This study reports on the sources of atmospheric particle-bound mercury (HgP) in less studied regions of Nepal based on the analysis of stable mercury (Hg) isotopes in aerosol samples from two neighboring areas with high and low anthropogenic emissions (Kathmandu and Dhulikhel, respectively) during 2018. Although the Indian monsoon and westerlies are generally regarded as the primary carriers of pollutants to this region via the heavily industrialized Indo-Gangetic Plain, the concentrations of total suspended particles (TSP) and HgP in Kathmandu were higher than those in Dhulikhel, thus suggesting a substantial contribution from local sources. Both isotopic (δHg and ΔHg) and non-isotopic evidence indicated that dust, waste burning, and industrial byproducts (without Hg amalgamation) were the major sources of Hg in Kathmandu during the study period. Read More

Water Sci Technol 2021 May;83(9):2287-2295

Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan E-mail:

The environmental release of mercury is continuously increasing with high degree of mobility, transformation and amplified toxicity. Improving remediation strategies is becoming increasingly important to achieve more stringent environmental safety standards. This study develops a laboratory-scale reactor for bioremediation of aqueous mercury using a biofilm-producing bacterial strain, KBH10, isolated from mercury-polluted soil. Read More

Acta Biomed 2021 May 12;92(2). Epub 2021 May 12.

Cardiovascular Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

Objectives: There is an association between diet quality and markers of inflammation. We aimed to investigate the relationship between diet quality with cell blood count (CBC) and inflammatory indices such as red cell distribution width (RDW) and white blood cell count (WBC).

Study Design: A total of 367 male subjects aged 20-69 yrs, who were employees of Shahid Hasheminejad Gas Processing Company (SGPC) completed the study. Read More

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2021 May 13. Epub 2021 May 13.

Institute of Research and Development, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, 550000, Vietnam.

In this work, samples of surface snow, surface ice, snow pit and meltwater from the Laohugou Glacier No. 12 on the northern edge of Tibetan Plateau (TP) were collected during the summer of 2015. The average concentration of Hg in surface snow/ice was 22. Read More

Sci Rep 2021 May 13;11(1):10187. Epub 2021 May 13.

Defence Materials and Stores Research and Development Establishment, Kanpur, 208013, India.

The severe outbreak of respiratory coronavirus disease 2019 has increased the significant demand of respiratory mask and its use become ubiquitous worldwide to control this unprecedented respiratory pandemic. The performance of a respiratory mask depends on the efficiency of the filter layer which is mostly made of polypropylene melt blown non-woven (PP-MB-NW). So far, very limited characterization data are available for the PPE-MB-NW in terms to achieve desired particulate filtration efficiency (PFE) against 0. Read More

Environ Pollut 2021 May 3;286:117290. Epub 2021 May 3.

State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China.

Biochar amendment has the potential to reduce methylmercury (MeHg) uptake by rice grains in soil-rice ecosystem. Considering that sulfur can strongly bind Hg and thus reduce its bioavailability, S-modified biochar has been used to immobilize Hg in soils. However, whether natural S-enriched biochar can further reduce Hg and MeHg phytoavailability remains unknown. Read More

Chemosphere 2021 Jul 16;274:129980. Epub 2021 Feb 16.

Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment, Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, P.O. Box 116450, USA. Electronic address:

Despite the limitations reported on the efficiency of metals used as sorbents, recent advances in chemical and material sciences make it possible to use remediation technologies based on zero valent iron (ZVI) to restore the ecosystem services of metal-contaminated soils. In addition, recent studies showed that remediation by in situ immobilization could be avoided by taking advantage of the strong magnetic characteristics of ZVI. We combined these well-established concepts and conducted laboratory experiments to predict the removal efficiency of metals from contaminated soils based on their chemical classification into type-A, type-B and borderline metals. Read More

Chemosphere 2021 Jul 15;274:129959. Epub 2021 Feb 15.

State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing, 102249, China. Electronic address:

This work describes a novel fluorescent chemoprobe that uses carbon dots and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to monitor mercury ions in aqueous samples attributed to the principle of inner filter effect. The fluorescent response signal of the carbon dots is diminished by AgNPs, attributed to inner filter effect, and is restored with the addition of Hg. The fluorescent chemoprobe was specific over the range from 0. Read More

J Nutr 2021 May 12. Epub 2021 May 12.

Innlandet Hospital Trust, Lillehammer, Norway.

Background: Biomarkers such as omega-3 (n-3) PUFAs, urinary iodine concentration (UIC), 1-methylhistidine (1-MH), and trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) have been associated with fish intake in observational studies, but data from children in randomized controlled trials are limited.

Objectives: The objective of this exploratory analysis was to investigate the effects of fatty fish intake compared with meat intake on various biomarkers in preschool children.

Methods: We randomly allocated (1:1) 232 children, aged 4 to 6 y, from 13 kindergartens. Read More

Fac Rev 2021 26;10:32. Epub 2021 Mar 26.

IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia.

Epidemiological studies demonstrated an association between heavy metal exposure and the incidence of obesity and metabolic syndrome. However, the particular effects of metal toxicity on adipose tissue functioning are unclear. Therefore, recent findings of direct influence of heavy metals (mercury, cadmium, and lead) and metalloid (arsenic) on adipose tissue physiology are discussed while considering existing gaps and contradictions. Read More

Health Sci Rep 2021 Jun 7;4(2):e278. Epub 2021 May 7.

Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust Nephrology Truro UK.

Objectives: To investigate how personal protective equipment (PPE) guidance altered the facial hair of hospital doctors and explore the wider impact and implications of these changes.

Methods: A single site uncontrolled before-after survey study examining change in facial hairstyles, and wider implications on doctor's cultural, religious, and personal wellbeing. Outcome measures included change in facial hair between January and April 2020 and whether these changes adhered to guidance set by Public Health England. Read More

J Healthc Leadersh 2021 3;13:119-128. Epub 2021 May 3.

Department of Public Health, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, SNNPR, Ethiopia.

Introduction: Health-care waste is a great concern because, in addition to containing conventional toxic pollutants like mercury, chlorinated plastics, and solvents; it also includes a number of toxic materials not found in typical waste. There were no scientific data in Ethiopia that reveal practice toward management of health-care waste. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the management of health professionals toward health-care waste in South Omo zone public health facilities, South West Ethiopia, 2018. Read More

Biomed Pap Med Fac Univ Palacky Olomouc Czech Repub 2021 May 11. Epub 2021 May 11.

Educational Center for Practical Anatomy, Brno, Czech Republic.

Aims: To assess the results of a biomechanical test of cadaveric specimens, comparing 2 methods of fixation of modified Lapidus arthrodesis in combination with arthrodesis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint.

Methods: A total of 12 cadaveric specimens were used in the test. Arthrodesis of the first MTP joint was in all patients fixed with a Variable Angle LCP 1st MTP Fusion Plate 2. Read More

Sci Rep 2021 May 11;11(1):10437. Epub 2021 May 11.

Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.

Sci Rep 2021 May 11;11(1):9961. Epub 2021 May 11.

National Marine Science Centre, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia.

We compared the effects of preservation and storage methods on total alkalinity (A) of seawater, estuarine water, freshwater, and groundwater samples stored for 0-6 months. Water samples, untreated or treated with HgCl, 0.45 µm filtration, or filtration plus HgCl, were stored in polypropylene or borosilicate glass vials for 0, 1, or 6 months. Read More

Chemosphere 2021 Apr 23;280:130636. Epub 2021 Apr 23.

Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, University of Szeged, H-6720, Szeged, Dóm tér 7, Hungary. Electronic address:

BiOI, BiOCl, and their composites (BiOI:BiOCl) with molar ratios from 95:5 to 5:95 were synthesized and tested in the transformation of methyl orange (MO) and sulfamethoxypyridazine (SMP) antibiotic, using three various LED light sources: UV LEDs (398 nm), cool and warm white LEDs (400-700 nm). The 80:20 BiOI:BiOCl photocatalyst showed the best adsorption capacity for MO and enhanced activity compared to BiOI and BiOCl. The apparent quantum yield (Φ) of the MO and SMP transformation for cool and warm white light was slightly lower than for 398 nm UV radiation. Read More

Environ Pollut 2021 Apr 29;286:117249. Epub 2021 Apr 29.

Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University/ Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing, 100191, PR China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, PR China.

The relationship between heavy metal(loid)s exposure and oxidative stress damage is a matter of research interest. Our study aimed to investigate the distribution patterns of the nine heavy metal(loid)s in blood of pregnant women, including four toxic heavy metal(loid)s [arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg)] and five typical heavy metal(loid)s [manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and selenium (Se)] in blood. Blood samples of 348 women were collected and their concentrations in the serum (sr) and blood cells (bc) were measured, as well as serum heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) (an oxidative stress marker). Read More

Mar Pollut Bull 2021 May 8;168:112403. Epub 2021 May 8.

School of Resources, Environment and Materials, Guangxi University, Nanning, China.

The Beibu Gulf is an important passageway between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, where there has been an increase in pollution of heavy metals (HMs). High concentrations of Pb, Cr, Cd, Cu, Zn, As, and Hg in surface sediment were found in Qinzhou Bay, Fangchenggang, and other coastal areas. Stochastic geo-accumulation analyses identified the pollution to be "uncontaminated"; however, it had an 18% probability of deterioration. Read More

Environ Geochem Health 2021 May 11. Epub 2021 May 11.

Geosciences Environnement Toulouse (GET), Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, 31400, Toulouse, IRD, France.

In French Guiana were detected high lead (Pb) levels in blood of Amerindian people. Lead exposure is a serious hazard that can affect the cognitive and behavior development. People can be exposed to Pb through occupational and environmental sources. Read More

Plant Dis 2021 May 11. Epub 2021 May 11.

Hai Kou , China;

Coffee is a tropical plant with two widely cultivated species, namely Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora. A leaf spot disease causing brownish and necrotic lesions was broken out on the C. canephora coffee seedlings in a nursery in Ruili County, Yunnan Province, China, during 2018 to 2019. Read More

Sci Rep 2021 May 10;11(1):9898. Epub 2021 May 10.

Department of Occupational Health, University of Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili, 1, 25123, Brescia, BS, Italy.

Neurodevelopmental disorders are constantly increasing on a global scale. Some elements like heavy metals are known to be neurotoxic. In this cross-sectional study we assessed the neurobehavioral effect of the exposure to trace elements including lead, mercury, cadmium, manganese, arsenic and selenium and their interactions among 299 schoolchildren residing in the heavily polluted Taranto area in Italy. Read More

Food Chem 2021 Apr 22;360:129790. Epub 2021 Apr 22.

Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma Via del Taglio, 10, Parma 43126, Italy. Electronic address:

Quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (Q-ICP-MS) and direct mercury analysis were used to determine the elemental composition of 180 transformed (salt-ripened) anchovies from three different fishing areas before and after packaging. To this purpose, four decision trees-based algorithms, corresponding to C5.0, classification and regression trees (CART), chi-squareautomatic interaction detection (CHAID), and quick unbiased efficient statistical tree (QUEST) were applied to the elemental datasets to find the most accurate data mining procedure to achieve the ultimate goal of fish origin prediction. Read More

Mol Biol Rep 2021 May 10. Epub 2021 May 10.

Geriatric Mental Health Department, KGMU, Lucknow, India.

Alzheimer's disease is a common neurodegenerative disease in the elderly population and a leading cause of dementia. Genetics and environmental risk factors were considered to play a major role in the onset of the disease. This study aimed to examine the correlation between different metals levels and the gene expression in Alzheimer's patients with age-matched control subjects. Read More

Environ Sci Process Impacts 2021 May 10. Epub 2021 May 10.

Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan, 1100 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1005, USA.

The goal of this project was to assess how anthropogenic legacy mercury (Hg) retained in streambed sediment may be remobilized to stream water. To do this, we performed sequential extractions and Hg isotope analyses on streambed sediment collected along the length of East Fork Poplar Creek, a point-source contaminated stream in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA. Legacy Hg within streambed sediment appears to have been isotopically fractionated by equilibrium isotope effects driven by isotope exchange between co-existing Hg(0) and Hg(ii) species, potentially over-printing fractionation patterns that would have been imparted by kinetic redox reactions. Read More

J Vis Exp 2021 Apr 20(170). Epub 2021 Apr 20.

Kameda Medical Center; Kameda IVF Clinic Makuhari; Tokyo Medical and Dental University.

Since the first successful pregnancies achieved by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) were reported, ICSI has become an essential technique in assisted reproductive technology (ART). ICSI uses micropipettes with a spiking tip to penetrate the zona pellucida and membrane. Then, the cytoplasm is usually aspirated into the micropipette for membrane breakage (conventional-ICSI). Read More