Occurrence, source, ecological risk, and mitigation of phthalates (PAEs) in agricultural soils and the environment: A review.

The widespread distribution of phthalates (PAEs) in agricultural soils is increasing drastically; however, the environmental occurrence and potential risk of PAEs in agricultural systems remain largely unreviewed. In this study, the occurrence, sources, ecotoxicity, exposure risks, and control measures of PAEs contaminants in agricultural soils are summarized, and it is concluded that PAEs have been widely detected and persist in the soil at concentrations ranging from a few µg/kg to tens of mg/kg, with spatial and vertical variations in China. Agrochemicals and atmospheric deposition have largely contributed to the elevated contamination status of PAEs in soils. In addition, PAEs cause multi-level hazards to soil organisms (survival, oxidative damage, genetic and molecular levels, etc.) and further disrupt the normal ecological functions of soil. The health hazards of PAEs to humans are mainly generated through dietary and non-dietary pathways, and children may be at a higher risk of exposure than adults. Improving the soil microenvironment and promoting biochemical reactions and metabolic processes of PAEs are the main mechanisms for mitigating contamination. Based on these reviews, this study provides a valuable framework for determining future study objectives to reveal environmental risks and reduce the resistance control of PAEs in agricultural soils.

Containment and attenuating layers: An affordable strategy that preserves soil and water from landfill pollution.

The performance of a widely distributed natural clay to attenuate contaminants released from an old landfill was investigated. The objective is to evaluate its potential use as a barrier for waste containment systems. Core samples of the natural clay were collected below the landfill and their parameters distribution with depth was determined. Partition coefficients, retardation factors and percentage values of pollutants concentrations, revealed a rapid decrease of contaminants with depth. The background values of the pollutants were below the maximum limits for drinking and irrigation water and with no need of reactors, collectors, aeration or recirculation systems. Impermeable waste capping is discouraged in order to decrease leachate toxicity, decomposition time and conservative species, and in order to avoid high-reducing conditions that would mobilize redox-sensitive contaminants. A review on leachate-composition evolution and on natural-attenuation processes was undertaken to understand the interactions leachate-substratum, which is essential to properly estimate the leachate transport and implement the attenuation strategy. This strategy complements the traditional containment one regarding (1) the susceptibility of engineering liners to fail, (2) the inevitable diffusion of contaminants through them, (3) the remaining high number of old landfills before the requirements of liner systems and (4) the low-cost and feasibility for developing countries.

Principles underlying rational design of live attenuated influenza vaccines.

Despite recent innovative advances in molecular virology and the developments of vaccines, influenza virus remains a serious burden for human health. Vaccination has been considered a primary countermeasure for prevention of influenza infection. Live attenuated influenza vaccines (LAIVs) are particularly attracting attention as an effective strategy due to several advantages over inactivated vaccines. Cold-adaptation, as a classical means for attenuating viral virulence, has been successfully used for generating safe and effective donor strains of LAIVs against seasonal epidemics and occasional pandemics. Recently, the advent of reverse genetics technique expedited a variety of rational strategies to broaden the pool of LAIVs. Considering the breadth of antigenic diversity of influenza virus, the pool of LAIVs is likely to equip us with better options for controlling influenza pandemics. With a brief reflection on classical attenuating strategies used at the initial stage of development of LAIVs, especially on the principles underlying the development of cold-adapted LAIVs, we further discuss and outline other attenuation strategies especially with respect to the rationales for attenuation, and their practicality for mass production. Finally, we propose important considerations for a rational vaccine design, which will provide us with practical guidelines for improving the safety and effectiveness of LAIVs.