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1.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36498024

ABSTRACT

Octahydro-1, 3, 5, 7-tetranitro-1, 3, 5, 7-tetrazocine (HMX) is extensively exploited in the manufacturing of explosives; therefore, a significant level of HMX contamination can be encountered near explosive production plants. For instance, up to 12 ppm HMX concentrations have been observed in the wastewater effluent of a munitions manufacturing facility, while up to 45,000 mg/kg of HMX has been found in a soil sample taken from a location close to a high-explosive production site. Owing to their immense demand for a variety of applications, the large-scale production of explosives has culminated in severe environmental issues. Soil and water contaminated with HMX can pose a detrimental impact on flora and fauna and hence, remediation of HMX is paramount. There is a rising demand to establish a sustainable technology for HMX abatement. Physiochemical and bioremediation approaches have been employed to treat HMX in the soil, groundwater, and wastewater. It has been revealed that treatment methods such as photo-peroxidation and photo-Fenton oxidation can eliminate approximately 98% of HMX from wastewater. Fenton's reagents were found to be very effective at mineralizing HMX. In the photocatalytic degradation of HMX, approximately 59% TOC removal was achieved by using a TiO2 photocatalyst, and a dextrose co-substrate was used in a bioremediation approach to accomplish 98.5% HMX degradation under anaerobic conditions. However, each technology has some pros and cons which need to be taken into consideration when choosing an HMX remediation approach. In this review, various physiochemical and bioremediation approaches are considered and the mechanism of HMX degradation is discussed. Further, the advantages and disadvantages of the technologies are also discussed along with the challenges of HMX treatment technologies, thus giving an overview of the HMX remediation strategies.


Subject(s)
Explosive Agents , Soil , Azocines/analysis , Azocines/metabolism , Wastewater , Heterocyclic Compounds, 1-Ring/analysis , Heterocyclic Compounds, 1-Ring/metabolism
2.
Sci Justice ; 62(2): 129-136, 2022 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35277225

ABSTRACT

Empirical studies evaluating the conditions under which the transfer of forensic materials occurs can provide contextual information and offer insight into how that material may have been transferred in a given scenario. Here, a reductionist approach was taken to assess the impact of force, time, and rotation on the transfer of an explosive compound. An Instron ElectroPuls E3000 material testing instrument was used to bring porous and non-porous surfaces adulterated with an ammonium nitrate into direct contact with a human skin analogue, controlling for the force of contact, duration of contact, and rotation applied during contact. Quantifiable amounts of ammonium nitrate were recovered from all of the recipient surfaces demonstrating that ammonium nitrate is readily transferred from one surface to another, even when contact occurs for a short duration with a relatively low force. More particulates were transferred from non-porous surfaces onto the human skin analogue, but the amount of ammonium nitrate transferred did not depend upon the force of contact, duration of contact, or the amount of rotation applied. However, when contact occurred and involved rotation, a greater transfer of ammonium nitrate was observed, compared to those contacts occurring without rotation being applied. This approach complements more commonly-used holistic experiments that test multiple interacting variables in a realistic setting by isolating these variables, allowing them to be examined individually. This can be utilised to better understand the individual impact that specific variables have on the transfer of trace evidence in relevant crime reconstruction contexts.


Subject(s)
Explosive Agents , Nitrates , Forensic Medicine , Humans , Rotation
3.
Biomaterials ; 282: 121381, 2022 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35123320

ABSTRACT

Photothermal therapy (PTT) has received increasing attention for treating tumors. However, a long-standing challenge in PTT is non-uniform distribution of photothermal agents (PAs) in tumor tissues, resulting in limited therapeutic efficiency. Herein, inspired by dandelions blowing away by the wind, we have designed a DNA-assembled visible GRS-DNA-CuS nanodandelion, which can achieve uniform intra-tumor distribution (UITD) of PAs, thus enhancing the photothermal therapeutic efficiency. GRS-DNA-CuS is featured by the formation of hydrogen bond between the core of single-strand DNA-modified Raman nanoprobes (GRS) and the shell of complementary single-strand DNA-modified CuS PAs. Under Raman imaging-guided 1st NIR irradiation, hydrogen bond in GRS-DNA-CuS is explosively broken, resulting in large-sized GRS-DNA-CuS (∼135 nm) be completely dissociated into GRS and ultra-small CuS PAs (∼12 nm) within 1 min. Such an explosive dissociation instantly enhances the local concentration of ultra-small CuS PAs and slightly rises intra-tumor temperature, thus increasing the diffusion coefficient of PAs and promoting their UITD. This UITD of CuS PAs enhances the photothermal anti-tumor effects. Three out of five tumors are completely eliminated under photoacoustic imaging-guided 2nd NIR irradiation. Overall, this study provides one UITD-guided PTT strategy for highly effective tumor treatment by exerting explosive breakage property of hydrogen bond, broadening the application scope of DNA-assembly technique in oncology field.


Subject(s)
Explosive Agents , Nanoparticles , Neoplasms , Copper/chemistry , DNA/therapeutic use , Humans , Hydrogen/therapeutic use , Hydrogen Bonding , Nanoparticles/chemistry , Neoplasms/drug therapy , Phototherapy , Photothermal Therapy
4.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35055584

ABSTRACT

Dietary nitrate supplementation is evidenced to induce physiological effects on skeletal muscle function in fast-twitch muscle fibers and may enhance high-intensity exercise performance. An important component of sport-specific skills is the ability to perform explosive movements; however, it is unclear if nitrate supplementation can impact explosive efforts. We examined the existing evidence to determine whether nitrate supplementation improves explosive efforts lasting ≤ 6 s. PubMed, Scopus and Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) were searched for articles using the following search strategy: (nitrate OR nitrite OR beetroot) AND (supplement OR supplementation) AND (explosive OR power OR high intensity OR high-intensity OR sprint* OR "athletic performance"). Out of 810 studies, 18 were eligible according to inclusion criteria. Results showed that 4 of the 10 sprint-type studies observed improved sprint time, power output, and total work in cycling or running, whereas 4 of the 10 resistance-based exercise studies observed improvements to power and velocity of free-weight bench press as well as isokinetic knee extension and flexion at certain angular velocities. These results suggest that nitrate potentially improves explosive exercise performance, but further work is required to clarify the factors influencing the efficacy of nitrate in different exercise modalities.


Subject(s)
Athletic Performance , Explosive Agents , Athletic Performance/physiology , Dietary Supplements , Double-Blind Method , Nitrates , Nitrites
5.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34769925

ABSTRACT

Various choline-based multi-ingredient supplementations (CMS) have been suggested in the current market, but the research is limited. The purpose of this study was to investigate the acute effect of a CMS on physical performance. Fourteen male college football players (20.4 ± 1.0 years) participated in a randomized double-blind crossover experiment separated by 7 days. Subjects were given a CMS or a placebo 60 min before physical performance testing measures, including maximum vertical jumps, maximum voluntary isometric contractions (MVIC), maximal voluntary concentric contractions (MVCC), and fatiguing contractions. Four MVICs and seven sets of two MVCCs at various loads (1 N·m to 60% MVIC torque) were performed with the knee extensor muscles while seated on a dynamometer before and after the fatiguing tasks. During the fatiguing tasks, 120 MVCCs (4 sets × 30 reps) were performed with a load equivalent to 20% MVIC. Twitch interpolation technique was used to assess muscle contractile properties and voluntary activation. No significant differences were seen at baseline between sessions for all testing measures including vertical jump height, strength, power, muscle contractile properties and voluntary activation. Rate of torque development and impulse was higher in supplemental session compared to control session throughout the fatiguing contractions (p = 0.018, p < 0.001, respectively). Acute CMS can improve explosive strength by delaying the onset of fatigue.


Subject(s)
Explosive Agents , Muscle Fatigue , Choline , Dietary Supplements , Electromyography , Fatigue , Humans , Male , Muscle, Skeletal
6.
Bull Environ Contam Toxicol ; 105(1): 127-133, 2020 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32548730

ABSTRACT

In this work the toxicity caused by explosive industries effluent (yellow water) at different levels of toxicity (genetic, cellular and organismal level) was evaluated by the Allium cepa test and the Sorghum sudanense germination. The results showed that the effluent paralyze the mitotic process, keeping the cells in the interphase, decreasing the mitotic index in A. cepa. Chromosomal abnormalities such as c-metaphases, adhesions, breaks, early ascending chromosomes and irregular nucleus were observed for this receptor species. The germination of S. sudanense was reduced, and the development of the radicles were affected, showing reduced tolerance index at the highest concentrations of the effluent. Thus, it is concluded that the effluent from the explosive industry is extremely toxic to the tested organisms, both in cellular and chromosomal level and also for seed germination.


Subject(s)
Explosive Agents/toxicity , Germination/drug effects , Onions/drug effects , Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity , Chromosome Aberrations , Mitotic Index , Onions/genetics , Onions/physiology , Sorghum
7.
Biomaterials ; 250: 120021, 2020 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32360931

ABSTRACT

To engineer tumor-tropic cells as drug delivery vehicles is a promising strategy to improve therapeutic specificity and efficacy for cancer treatment. However, conventional genetically engineered cell-based drug delivery systems are often capable of initiating single-mode therapy, and lack precise spatiotemporal control over the release of therapeutic payloads at tumor local, thus possibly causing severe systemic toxicity. Here, the macrophages are genetically engineered to encode a non-secreted form of EGFP-TNFα fusion protein and intracellularly carry near-infrared (NIR)-responsive heat-nanogenerators (HIMs). Owing to macrophages' intrinsic tumor tropism and HIMs' photo-responsiveness to NIR, these macrophages (HIMs@eMET) can actively accumulate at tumor sites and undergo controlled photothermolysis induced by NIR-induced HIMs-mediated photothermal effects (PTE). Such heat-induced cell explosion enables spatiotemporally controlled release of non-secreted TNFα from macrophages and effectively kills cancer cells. Importantly, in a preclinical tumor model, HIMs@eMET actively migrate to tumors where PTE and released EGFP-TNFα exhibit an enhanced antitumor effect, suppressing tumor growth and significantly prolonging animal survival without eliciting adverse side effects. Thus, this study demonstrates the potential of such dual-engineered macrophages in bi-modal cancer therapy.


Subject(s)
Explosive Agents , Hyperthermia, Induced , Neoplasms , Animals , Cell Line, Tumor , Infrared Rays , Macrophages , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Neoplasms/therapy , Phototherapy
8.
Ecotoxicol Environ Saf ; 167: 324-330, 2019 Jan 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30347353

ABSTRACT

Three tree species (Wild olive, Stinkwood and Cape Holy) and a shrub (Dovyalis caffra) were each potted in 20 L pots in order to evaluate the effect of 1,3,5-trinitrotoluene (TNT)-contaminated soil on vegetation. TNT contamination was established by dissolving flake TNT in acetone at 300 and 600 mg per kilogram soil concentrations. One pot for every species was left uncontaminated as control elements. A set of 16 samples, four contaminated, four uncontaminated aerial parts and their corresponding soils, were gathered. These were processed and subjected to a solid phase extraction method to isolate analytes of interest. A laboratory analytical method was applied using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-qTOF MS). For the UPLC-qTOF MS a gradient for the mobile phase was found which allowed the profiling and separation of metabolites in the aerial parts of the vegetation. This method allowed identification and quantification of major changes caused by TNT contaminated soil on vegetation. The Synapt High Definition Mass Spectrometer SYNAPT HDMS G1 was operated using the electrospray ionisation (ESI) technique in both positive and negative mode. A clear comparison of profiles was achieved and this has been demonstrated by the distinct newly-formed metabolites in the TNT contaminated vegetation understudy. The results have also shown that the chlorophyll region in the contaminated profile was also affected by the uptake of TNT degradation products. This has been observed in the contaminated profiles of Wild olive, Stinkwood and Cape Holly extracts indicating enhanced nutrient availability.


Subject(s)
Explosive Agents/analysis , Plant Extracts/analysis , Soil Pollutants/analysis , Trinitrotoluene/analysis , Fabaceae/drug effects , Fabaceae/metabolism , Ilex/drug effects , Ilex/metabolism , Olea/drug effects , Olea/metabolism , Plant Development/drug effects , Salicaceae/drug effects , Salicaceae/metabolism , Soil/chemistry , Solid Phase Extraction , Trees/drug effects , Trees/metabolism
9.
J Environ Manage ; 204(Pt 2): 775-782, 2017 Dec 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28416262

ABSTRACT

Laboratory studies were performed to test a novel reactive gas process for in-situ treatment of soils containing halogenated propanes or explosives. A soil column study, using a 5% ammonia-in-air mixture, established that the treatment process can increase soil pH from 7.5 to 10.2. Batch reactor experiments were performed to demonstrate contaminant destruction in sealed jars exposed to ammonia. Comparison of results from batch reactors that were, and were not, exposed to ammonia demonstrated reductions in concentrations of 1,2,3-trichloropropane (TCP), 1,3-dichloropropane (1,3-DCP), 1,2-dicholoropropane (1,2-DCP) and dibromochloropropane (DBCP) that ranged from 34 to 94%. Decreases in TCP concentrations at 23° C ranged from 37 to 65%, versus 89-94% at 62° C. A spiked soil column study was also performed using the same set of contaminants. The study showed a pH penetration distance of 30 cm in a 2.5 cm diameter soil column (with a pH increase from 8 to > 10), due to treatment via 5% ammonia gas at 1 standard cubic centimeter per minute (sccm) for 7 days. Batch reactor tests using explosives contaminated soils exhibited a 97% decrease in 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), an 83% decrease in nitrobenzene, and a 6% decrease in hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX). A biotransformation study was also performed to investigate whether growth of ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms could be stimulated via prolonged exposure of soil to ammonia. Over the course of the 283 day study, only a very small amount of nitrite generation was observed; indicating very limited ammonia monooxygenase activity. Overall, the data indicate that ammonia gas addition can be a viable approach for treating halogenated propanes and some types of explosives in soils.


Subject(s)
Propane/analogs & derivatives , Soil Pollutants/chemistry , Ammonia , Explosive Agents , Propane/chemistry , Soil , Triazines , Trinitrotoluene
10.
Ann Vasc Surg ; 40: 44-49, 2017 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28161564

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: On November 13, 2015, Paris and Saint-Denis were the targets of terrorist attacks. The Public Hospitals of Paris Organization and the Percy Armed Forces Instruction Hospitals were mobilized to face the mass casualty situation. The objective of this study is to analyze the management of the victims presenting with a nonthoracic vascular trauma (NTVT). METHODS: All the data relating to the victims of NTVT who required a specific vascular open or endovascular treatment were analyzed retrospectively. A 6-month follow-up was obtained for all the patients. RESULTS: Among the 351 wounded, 20 (5.7%) patients had an NTVT and were dispatched in 8 hospitals (11 men of average age 32). NTVTs were gunshots in 17 cases (85%) or due to a handmade bomb in 3 cases (15%). Twelve patients (60%) received cardiopulmonary resuscitation during prehospital care. NTVT affected the limbs (14 cases, 70%) and the abdomen or the small pelvis (6 cases, 30%). All the patients were operated in emergency. Arterial lesions were treated with greater saphenous vein bypasses, by ligation, and/or embolization. Eleven venous lesions were treated by direct repair or ligation. Associated lesions requiring a specific treatment were present in 19 patients (95%) and were primarily osseous, nervous, and abdomino-pelvic. Severe postoperative complications were observed in 9 patients (45%). Fourteen patients (70%) required blood transfusion (6.4 U of packed red blood cells on average, range 0-48). There were no deaths or amputation and all vascular reconstructions were patent at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: The effectiveness of the prehospital emergency services and a multisite and multidisciplinary management made it possible to obtain satisfactory results for NTVT casualties. All the departments of vascular surgery must be prepared to receive many wounded victims in the event of terrorist attacks.


Subject(s)
Blast Injuries/therapy , Bombs , Embolization, Therapeutic , Emergency Medical Services , Endovascular Procedures , Explosive Agents , Terrorism , Vascular Surgical Procedures , Vascular System Injuries/therapy , Adult , Blast Injuries/diagnostic imaging , Blast Injuries/etiology , Blast Injuries/physiopathology , Blood Transfusion , Delivery of Health Care, Integrated , Embolization, Therapeutic/adverse effects , Embolization, Therapeutic/mortality , Emergencies , Endovascular Procedures/adverse effects , Endovascular Procedures/mortality , Female , Humans , Ligation , Male , Middle Aged , Paris , Patient Care Team , Retrospective Studies , Saphenous Vein/transplantation , Time Factors , Treatment Outcome , Vascular Patency , Vascular Surgical Procedures/adverse effects , Vascular Surgical Procedures/mortality , Vascular System Injuries/diagnostic imaging , Vascular System Injuries/etiology , Vascular System Injuries/physiopathology , Young Adult
11.
J Environ Manage ; 163: 262-9, 2015 Nov 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26340419

ABSTRACT

Co-contamination of explosives and heavy metals (HMs) in soil, particularly army shooting range soil, has received increasing environmental concern due to toxicity and risks to ecological systems. In this study, a subcritical water (SCW) extraction process was used to remediate the explosives-plus-HMs-co-contaminated soil. A quantitative evaluation of explosives in the treated soil, compared with untreated soil, was applied to assess explosive removal. The immobilization of HMs was assessed by toxicity characteristic leaching procedure tests, and by investigating the migration of HMs fractions. The environmental risk of HMs in the soil residue was assessed according to the risk assessment code (RAC) and ecological risk indices (Er and RI). The results indicated that SCW treatment could eliminate the explosives, >99%, during the remediation, while the HM was effectively immobilized. The effect of water temperature on reducing the explosives and the risk of HMs in soil was observed. A marked increase in the non-bioavailable concentration of each HM was observed, and the leaching rate of HMs was decreased by 70-97% after SCW treatment at 250 °C, showing the effective immobilization of HMs. According to the RAC or RI, each tested HM showed no or low risk to the environment after treatment.


Subject(s)
Explosive Agents/analysis , Metals, Heavy/analysis , Risk Assessment/methods , Soil Pollutants/chemistry , Water/chemistry , Biological Availability , Environment , Metals, Heavy/chemistry , Metals, Heavy/pharmacokinetics , Soil/chemistry , Soil Pollutants/analysis , Soil Pollutants/isolation & purification , Toxicity Tests , Water Pollution/prevention & control
12.
BMC Genomics ; 16: 587, 2015 Aug 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26251320

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: A systems toxicology investigation comparing and integrating transcriptomic and proteomic results was conducted to develop holistic effects characterizations for the wildlife bird model, Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) dosed with the explosives degradation product 2-amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene (2A-DNT). A subchronic 60 d toxicology bioassay was leveraged where both sexes were dosed via daily gavage with 0, 3, 14, or 30 mg/kg-d 2A-DNT. Effects on global transcript expression were investigated in liver and kidney tissue using custom microarrays for C. virginianus in both sexes at all doses, while effects on proteome expression were investigated in liver for both sexes and kidney in males, at 30 mg/kg-d. RESULTS: As expected, transcript expression was not directly indicative of protein expression in response to 2A-DNT. However, a high degree of correspondence was observed among gene and protein expression when investigating higher-order functional responses including statistically enriched gene networks and canonical pathways, especially when connected to toxicological outcomes of 2A-DNT exposure. Analysis of networks statistically enriched for both transcripts and proteins demonstrated common responses including inhibition of programmed cell death and arrest of cell cycle in liver tissues at 2A-DNT doses that caused liver necrosis and death in females. Additionally, both transcript and protein expression in liver tissue was indicative of induced phase I and II xenobiotic metabolism potentially as a mechanism to detoxify and excrete 2A-DNT. Nuclear signaling assays, transcript expression and protein expression each implicated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) nuclear signaling as a primary molecular target in the 2A-DNT exposure with significant downstream enrichment of PPAR-regulated pathways including lipid metabolic pathways and gluconeogenesis suggesting impaired bioenergetic potential. CONCLUSION: Although the differential expression of transcripts and proteins was largely unique, the consensus of functional pathways and gene networks enriched among transcriptomic and proteomic datasets provided the identification of many critical metabolic functions underlying 2A-DNT toxicity as well as impaired PPAR signaling, a key molecular initiating event known to be affected in di- and trinitrotoluene exposures.


Subject(s)
Aniline Compounds/toxicity , Colinus/metabolism , Liver/drug effects , Animals , Biological Assay/methods , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Explosive Agents/toxicity , Female , Kidney/drug effects , Kidney/metabolism , Liver/metabolism , Male , Metabolic Networks and Pathways/drug effects , Proteome/drug effects , Proteome/metabolism , Proteomics/methods
13.
J Forensic Sci ; 60(3): 648-52, 2015 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25661474

ABSTRACT

Yellow phosphorus (YP) is a powerful protoplasmic poison used in the manufacturing of matches, pest poisons, firecrackers, firework cracker, lights for watches, military ammunition, and agriculture fertilizer. YP is extremely flammable and toxic and easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. In this study, we examined childhood deaths from 1997 to 2012 resulting from the ingestion of firecrackers. The patients ranged from 2 to 15 years of age and were admitted to the hospital with a variety of symptoms. Those that presented with nausea, vomiting, and hypotension rapidly deteriorated and entered a coma. An autopsy was performed in all but one of the 16 cases reviewed. Macroscopically, the livers had a yellowish discoloration with petechial bleeding. Histopathologic examination revealed acute toxic hepatitis. In conclusion, these firecrackers are found in corner shops throughout Turkey, may cause death in children with little warning, and should be banned to prevent further deaths.


Subject(s)
Explosive Agents/poisoning , Phosphorus/poisoning , Adolescent , Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury/pathology , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Forensic Pathology , Humans , Liver/pathology , Male , Turkey
14.
Curr Opin Biotechnol ; 27: 1-7, 2014 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24863890

ABSTRACT

Contamination of the vadose zone with various pollutants is a world-wide problem, and often technical or economic constraints impose remediation without excavation. In situ bioremediation in the vadose zone by bioventing has become a standard remediation technology for light spilled petroleum products. In this review, focus is given on new in situ bioremediation strategies in the vadose zone targeting a variety of other pollutants such as perchlorate, nitrate, uranium, chromium, halogenated solvents, explosives and pesticides. The techniques for biostimulation of either oxidative or reductive degradation pathways are presented, and biotransformations to immobile pollutants are discussed in cases of non-degradable pollutants. Furthermore, research on natural attenuation in the vadose zone is presented.


Subject(s)
Biodegradation, Environmental , Environmental Pollutants/isolation & purification , Environmental Pollutants/metabolism , Soil/chemistry , Aerobiosis , Anaerobiosis , Chromium/isolation & purification , Chromium/metabolism , Diffusion , Environmental Pollutants/analysis , Explosive Agents/isolation & purification , Explosive Agents/metabolism , Gases/chemistry , Gases/isolation & purification , Nitrates/isolation & purification , Nitrates/metabolism , Oxygen/chemistry , Perchlorates/isolation & purification , Perchlorates/metabolism , Pesticides/isolation & purification , Pesticides/metabolism , Uranium/isolation & purification , Uranium/metabolism
15.
Environ Toxicol Chem ; 33(5): 1035-42, 2014 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24464681

ABSTRACT

There is an increasing likelihood of interactions between nanomaterials and munitions constituents in the environment resulting from the use of nanomaterials as additives to energetic formulations and potential contact in waste streams from production facilities and runoff from training ranges. The purpose of the present research was to determine the ability of nano-aluminum oxide (Al(2)O(3)) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) to adsorb the munitions constituents cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) and tungsten (W) from aqueous solution as a first step in determining the long-term exposure, transport, and bioavailability implications of such interactions. The results indicate significant adsorption of RDX by MWCNTs and of W by nano-Al(2)O(3) (but not between W and MWCNT or RDX and nano-Al(2)O(3)). Kinetic sorption and desorption investigations indicated that the most sorption occurs nearly instantaneously (<5 min), with a relatively slower, secondary binding leading to statistically significant but relatively smaller increases in adsorption over 30 d. The RDX sorption that occurred during the initial interaction was irreversible, with long-term, reversible sorption likely the result of a secondary interaction; as interaction time increased, however, the portion of W irreversibly sorbed onto nano-Al(2)O(3) also increased. The present study shows that strong interactions between some munitions constituents and nanomaterials following environmental release are likely. Time-dependent binding has implications for the bioavailability, migration, transport, and fate of munitions constituents in the environment.


Subject(s)
Aluminum Oxide/chemistry , Environmental Pollutants/chemistry , Explosive Agents/chemistry , Nanostructures/chemistry , Nanotubes, Carbon/chemistry , Triazines/chemistry , Tungsten/chemistry , Adsorption , Environmental Pollutants/analysis , Explosive Agents/analysis , Triazines/analysis , Tungsten/analysis , Water/chemistry
16.
J Environ Sci Eng ; 56(1): 79-88, 2014 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26445760

ABSTRACT

Present methods for the disposal of old and rejected ammunition carry high risk and are not environment-friendly. Various processes such as wet air oxidation, molten salt oxidation, hydro thermal oxidation, incineration, electrochemical reduction, biodegradation and other methods have limited use for decontamination and are not suitable for disposal of large quantities of explosives. Thus there is dire need to develop alternate method for safe disposal of rejected explosives which will be eco-friendly. In this paper we have attempted to combine two methods i.e. chemical treatment followed by biological/microbiological treatment. For this purpose we have selected Tri Nitro Toluene (TNT) as a model compound, which is used extensively in many types of ammunition. As reported previously from our laboratory the presence of nitro group from TNT was toxic to bacterial growth. By chemical treatment, nitro groups from TNT were converted into amine and mixed in soil for biodegradation. Our results suggest that after converting 'nitro groups' to 'amine groups' were much preferred by bacteria and faster mineralization is observed. Thus combined treatment to TNT as discussed in this study, showed much less phyto-toxicity and may have great potential to scale up the process for large quantities of explosive such as TNT.


Subject(s)
Bacteria/metabolism , Explosive Agents/chemistry , Trinitrotoluene/chemistry , Waste Management/methods , Amination , Biodegradation, Environmental , Explosive Agents/metabolism , Fabaceae/metabolism , Soil/chemistry , Trinitrotoluene/metabolism , Triticum/metabolism
18.
J Hazard Mater ; 243: 334-9, 2012 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23164624

ABSTRACT

A 15-week treatability study was conducted in a greenhouse to evaluate the potential effects of molasses on the bioremediation and phytoremediation potential of Guinea Grass (Panicum maximum) for treating energetic contaminated soil from the open burn/open detonation area of the Makua Military Reservation, Oahu, HI (USA). The energetics in the soil were royal demolition explosive (RDX) and high-melting explosive (HMX). Among the 6 treatments employed in this study, enhanced removal of RDX was observed from treatments that received molasses and went to completion. The RDX degradation rates in treatments with molasses diluted 1:20 and 1:40 were comparable suggesting that the lower dose worked as well as the higher dose. Treatments without molasses degraded RDX slowly and residuals remained after 15 weeks. The bacterial densities in molasses-treated units were much greater than those without molasses. Phytoremediation alone seems to have little effect on RDX disappearance. For HMX, neither bioremediation nor phytoremediation was found to be useful in reducing the concentration within the experimental period. The concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorous in the soil did not change significantly during the experiment, however, a slight increase in soil pH was observed in all treatments. The study showed that irrigating with diluted molasses is effective at enhancing RDX degradation mainly in the root zone and just below it. The long term sustainability of active training ranges can be enhanced by bioremediation using molasses treatments to prevent RDX deposited by on-going operations from migrating through the soil to groundwater and off-site.


Subject(s)
Biodegradation, Environmental/drug effects , Explosive Agents/chemistry , Molasses/analysis , Soil Pollutants/chemistry , Bacteria/metabolism , Energy Metabolism/physiology , Hawaii , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Nitrogen/chemistry , Phosphorus/chemistry , Poaceae , Soil/analysis , Soil Microbiology , Water Pollutants, Chemical
19.
Appl Microbiol Biotechnol ; 96(3): 647-62, 2012 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22763845

ABSTRACT

Small quantity of energetic material coated on the inner wall of a polymer tube is proposed as a new method to generate micro-shock waves in the laboratory. These micro-shock waves have been harnessed to develop a novel method of delivering dry particle and liquid jet into the target. We have generated micro-shock waves with the help of reactive explosive compound [high melting explosive (octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine) and traces of aluminium] coated polymer tube, utilising ∼9 J of energy. The detonation process is initiated electrically from one end of the tube, while the micro-shock wave followed by the products of detonation escape from the open end of the polymer tube. The energy available at the open end of the polymer tube is used to accelerate tungsten micro-particles coated on the other side of the diaphragm or force a liquid jet out of a small cavity filled with the liquid. The micro-particles deposited on a thin metal diaphragm (typically 100-µm thick) were accelerated to high velocity using micro-shock waves to penetrate the target. Tungsten particles of 0.7 µm diameter have been successfully delivered into agarose gel targets of various strengths (0.6-1.0 %). The device has been tested by delivering micro-particles into potato tuber and Arachis hypogaea Linnaeus (ground nut) stem tissue. Along similar lines, liquid jets of diameter ∼200-250 µm (methylene blue, water and oils) have been successfully delivered into agarose gel targets of various strengths. Successful vaccination against murine salmonellosis was demonstrated as a biological application of this device. The penetration depths achieved in the experimental targets are very encouraging to develop a future device for biological and biomedical applications.


Subject(s)
Explosive Agents/chemistry , Injections, Jet/methods , Mechanical Phenomena , Particulate Matter/administration & dosage , Solutions/administration & dosage , Animals , Arachis , Mice , Solanum tuberosum , Vaccination/methods
20.
J Emerg Med ; 43(2): 270-2, 2012 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22209551

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Yellow phosphorus poisoning is rare, but when it occurs, it may result in pathological changes in almost all organs of the body, especially the liver, heart, kidney, spleen, and brain, and it has a significant mortality rate. OBJECTIVES: This report presents two cases of poisoning by yellow phosphorus in children. Yellow phosphorus ingestion rarely has been reported among the pediatric population. CASE REPORT: This report presents two cases of yellow phosphorus poisoning in children. The patients were admitted with upper abdominal pain, vomiting, lethargy, and respiratory distress. Laboratory testing revealed hepatotoxicity and coagulation disorder. Yellow phosphorus poisoning was treated with conservative therapy in both patients, and one patient died. CONCLUSION: Yellow phosphorus poisoning is a rare clinical entity and should be considered a dangerous toxic ingestion in children.


Subject(s)
Explosive Agents/poisoning , Phosphorus/poisoning , Charcoal/therapeutic use , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Fluid Therapy , Humans , Male , Plasma , Therapeutic Irrigation
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