Probing the occurrence, sources and cancer risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in PM2.5 in a humid metropolitan city in China.

Fifty-two consecutive PM2.5 samples from December 2021 to February 2022 (the whole winter) were collected in the center of Chongqing, a humid metropolitan city in China. These samples were analysed for the 16 USEPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (16 PAHs) to explore their composition and sources, and to assess their cancer risks to humans. The total concentrations of the 16 PAHs (ng m-3) ranged from 16.45 to 174.15, with an average of 59.35 ± 21.45. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) indicated that traffic emissions were the major source (42.4%), followed by coal combustion/industrial emission (31.3%) and petroleum leakage/evaporation (26.3%). The contribution from traffic emission to the 16 PAHs increased from 40.0% in the non-episode days to as high as 46.2% in the air quality episode during the sampling period. The population attributable fraction (PAF) indicates that when the unit relative risk (URR) is 4.49, the number of lung cancer cases per million individuals under PAH exposure is 27 for adults and 38 for seniors, respectively. It was 5 for adults and 7 for seniors, when the URR is 1.3. The average incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) for children, adolescents, adults and seniors was 0.25 × 10-6, 0.23 × 10-6, 0.71 × 10-6, and 1.26 × 10-6, respectively. The results of these two models complemented each other well, and both implied acceptable PAH exposure levels. Individual genetic susceptibility and exposure time were identified as the most sensitive parameters. The selection and use of parameters in risk assessment should be further deepened in subsequent studies to enhance the reliability of the assessment results.

Qizhi Kebitong Formula Ameliorates Streptozocin-Induced Diabetic Osteoporosis through Regulating the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB Pathway.

Background: Diabetic osteoporosis (DOP) is a progressive osteoblast dysfunction induced by high glucose, which has negative impacts on bone homeostasis. Qizhi Kebitong formula (QKF) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula for treating DOP. However, its role in the protection of DOP has not been clarified yet. Here, we aimed to explore the potential mechanisms of QKF on DOP development via in vivo experiment. Methods: Network pharmacology was used to detect the key targets and signaling pathways of QKF on DOP. The effects of QKF on DOP were examined by the phenotypic characteristics, micro-CT, and hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining. The predicted targets and pathways were validated by a streptozocin- (STZ-) induced mouse model. Subsequently, the levels of the selected genes and proteins were analyzed using qRT-PCR and Western blot. Finally, AutoDock and PyMOL were used for molecular docking. Results: In this study, 90 active compounds and 2970 related disease targets have been found through network pharmacology. And QKF could improve the microstructures of femur bone mass, reduce inflammatory cell infiltration, and downregulate the levels of TNF-α, IKBKB, IL-6, and IL-1ß. Moreover, the underlying effect of PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathways was also recommended in the treatment. Conclusion: Altogether, our findings suggested that QKF could markedly alleviate osteoblast dysfunction by modulating the key targets and PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Combining eDNA and morphological approaches to reveal the impacts of long-term discharges of shale gas wastewaters on receiving waters.

The potential threats of shale gas wastewater discharges to receiving waters is of great concern. In this study, chemical analyses and biomonitoring were performed three times in a small river that received treated wastewater over a two-year period. The results of chemical analyses showed that the concentrations of chloride, conductivity, barium, and strontium increased at the discharge site, but their concentrations decreased considerably farther downstream (≥500 m). The concentrations of toxic organic compounds (16 US EPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and 6 priority phthalates), trace metals (strontium, arsenic, zinc, copper, chromium, lead, cadmium, nickel, and neodymium), and natural radionuclides (40K, 238U, 226Ra, and 232Th) were comparable to the corresponding background values or did not exhibit obvious accumulation in sediments with continued discharge. Morphological and environmental DNA approaches were used to reveal the potential effects of wastewater discharges on aquatic ecosystems. The results showed that the community structure of benthic invertebrates was not altered by the long-term discharges of shale gas wastewaters. However, the biodiversity indices (richness and Shannon) from the two approaches showed inconsistencies, which were caused by multiple reasons, and that substrates had a strong influence on the morphological biodiversity indices. A multimetric index was proposed to further analyze morphological and environmental DNA data, and the results showed no significant difference between the upstream and downstream sites. Generally, the chemical and biological results both demonstrated that the discharges of shale gas wastewaters had limited impacts on river ecosystems within two years.

Characterization of microbial communities and functions in shale gas wastewaters and sludge: Implications for pretreatment.

As hydraulic fracturing (HF) practices keep expanding in China, a comparative understanding of biological characteristics of flowback and produced waters (FPW) and sludge in impoundments for FPW reserve will help propose appropriate treatment strategies. Therefore, in this study, the microbial communities and functions in impoundments that collected wastewaters from dozens of wells were characterized. The results showed that microbial richness and diversity were significantly increased in sludge compared with those in FPW. The vast majority of microorganisms found in FPW and sludge are organic degraders, providing the possibility of using these indigenous microorganisms to biodegrade organic compounds. Our laboratory findings first show that wastewater pretreatment using these microorganisms was effective, and organic compounds in FPW from different shale formations were removed by 35-68% within 72 h in a wide temperature range (8 - 30 â„ƒ). Meanwhile, highly toxic compounds such as phthalate esters (PAEs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and petroleum hydrocarbons were effectively eliminated in reactors. The main microorganisms, key functional genes, and putative pathways for alkanes, PAHs, and PAEs degradation were also identified.

Association Between Employee Dental Claims, Health Risks, Workplace Productivity, and Preventive Services Compliance.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined differences in health risks and workplace outcomes among employees who utilized preventive dental services compared with other employees. METHODS: A retrospective observational study of employees of a large financial services corporation, with data from health risk appraisal questionnaires, medical claims, pharmacy claims, and dental claims. RESULTS: Employees with no dental claims were significantly more likely to have a variety of health risk factors (such as obesity and tobacco use), health conditions (such as diabetes), absenteeism, and lost on-the-job productivity, and were significantly less likely to be compliant with clinical preventive services compared with those with preventive dental claims. CONCLUSIONS: Employees with preventive dental claims had fewer health risks and medical conditions and better health and productivity measures. Study employees underutilized free dental care; employers should incorporate preventive dental care awareness into their worksite wellness programs.