Exposure of individuals aged 18-44 years to personal care products in Beijing, China: Exposure profiles, possible influencing factors, and risk assessment.

Personal care products (PCPs) are a class of emerging pollutants that have attracted public concern owing to their harmful effects on humans and the environment. Biomonitoring data is valuable for insight the levels of PCPs in the human body and can be crucial for identifying potential health hazards. To gain a better understanding of timely exposure profiles and health risk of reproductive-age population to PCPs, we determined six parabens, six benzophenone-type ultraviolet filters, and three disinfectants in 256 urine samples collected from young adults aged 18-44 years in Beijing, China. The urinary levels of benzophenone-3 (BP-3) and 4-hydroxybenzophenone (4-OHBP) were significantly higher in summer compared to winter, suggesting these compounds have different seasonal usage patterns. Moreover, the total concentration of 15 PCPs in female was 430 ng/mL, approximately two times higher than that in male. P­chloro-m-xylenol (PCMX), as a new type of antibacterial agent, has the greatest level among all target analytes, indicating the increasingly use of this antibacterial alternative recently. Five potential influencing factors that lead to the elevated exposure level of PCPs were identified. Over 19% of the target population had a high hazard index value (greater than 1) which was attributed to exposure to propyl paraben (PrP), benzophenone-1 (BP-1), BP-3 and PCMX, indicating that PCPs may pose a relatively high exposure risk at environmental levels that should be a cause for concern.

Emission characteristics and probabilistic health risk of volatile organic compounds from leather sofa.

Furniture is identified as a vital volatile organic compound (VOC) emission source in the indoor environment. Leather has become the most common raw and auxiliary fabric material for upholstered furniture, particularly with extensive consumption in sofas, due to its abundant resources and efficient functions. Despite being widely traded across the world, little research has been conducted on the VOCs released by leather materials and their health risk assessment in the indoor environment. Accordingly, this study investigated the VOC emissions of leather with different grades and the health risk of the inhalation exposure. Based on the ultra-fast gas phase electronic nose (EN) and GC-FID/Qtof, the substantial emissions of aliphatic aldehyde ketones (Aks), particularly hexanal, appear to be the cause of off-flavor in medium and low grade (MG and LG) sofa leathers. The health risk assessment indicated that leather materials barely pose non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic effects to residents. Given the abundance of VOC sources and the accumulation of health risks in the indoor environment, more stringent specifications concerning qualitative and quantitative content should be extended to provide VOC treatment basic for the manufacturing industry and obtain better indoor air quality.

Research progress on the environmental risk assessment and remediation technologies of heavy metal pollution in agricultural soil.

Controlling heavy metal pollution in agricultural soil has been a significant challenge. These heavy metals seriously threaten the surrounding ecological environment and human health. The effective assessment and remediation of heavy metals in agricultural soils are crucial. These two aspects support each other, forming a close and complete decision-making chain. Therefore, this review systematically summarizes the distribution characteristics of soil heavy metal pollution, the correlation between soil and crop heavy metal contents, the presence pattern and migration and transformation mode of heavy metals in the soil-crop system. The advantages and disadvantages of the risk evaluation tools and models of heavy metal pollution in farmland are further outlined, which provides important guidance for an in-depth understanding of the characteristics of heavy metal pollution in farmland soils and the assessment of the environmental risk. Soil remediation strategies involve multiple physical, chemical, biological and even combined technologies, and this paper compares the potential and effect of the above current remediation technologies in heavy metal polluted farmland soils. Finally, the main problems and possible research directions of future heavy metal risk assessment and remediation technologies in agricultural soils are prospected. This review provides new ideas for effective assessment and selection of remediation technologies based on the characterization of soil heavy metals.

Accumulation characteristics and fate modeling of phthalic acid esters in surface water from the Three Gorges Reservoir area, China.

Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are a group of compounds widespread in the environment. To investigate the occurrence and accumulation characteristics of PAEs, surface water samples were collected from the Three Gorges Reservoir area, China. The total concentrations of 11 analyzed PAEs (∑11PAEs) in the collected water samples ranging from 197.7 to 1,409.3 ng/L (mean ± IQR: 583.1 ± 308.4 ng/L). While DEHP was the most frequently detected PAE, DnBP and DnNP were the most predominant PAEs in the analyzed water samples with a mean contribution of 63.3% of the ∑11PAEs. The concentrations of the ∑11PAEs in the water samples from the upper reaches of the Yangtze River were significantly higher than those from the middle reaches. To better understand the transport and fate of the PAEs, seven detected PAEs were modeled by Quantitative Water Air Sediment Interaction (QWASI). The simulated and measured values were close for most PAEs, and differences are within one order of magnitude even for the worst one. For all simulated PAEs, water and particle inflow were main sources in the reservoir, whereas water outflow and degradation in water were important removal pathways. The contribution ratios of different sources/losses varied from PAEs, depending on their properties. The calculated risk quotients of DnNP in the Three Gorges Reservoir area whether based on monitoring or simulating results were all far exceeded the safety threshold value, implying the occurrence of this PAE compound may cause potential adverse effects for the aquatic ecology of the Three Gorges Reservoir area.

Occurrence of phthalate esters in the yellow and Yangtze rivers of china: Risk assessment and source apportionment.

Phthalate esters (PAEs), recognized as endocrine disruptors, are released into the environment during usage, thereby exerting adverse ecological effects. This study investigates the occurrence, sources, and risk assessment of PAEs in surface water obtained from 36 sampling points within the Yellow River and Yangtze River basins. The total concentration of PAEs in the Yellow River spans from 124.5 to 836.5 ng/L, with Dimethyl phthalate (DMP) (75.4 ± 102.7 ng/L) and Diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP) (263.4 ± 103.1 ng/L) emerging as the predominant types. Concentrations exhibit a pattern of upstream (512.9 ± 202.1 ng/L) > midstream (344.5 ± 135.3 ng/L) > downstream (177.8 ± 46.7 ng/L). In the Yangtze River, the total concentration ranges from 81.9 to 441.6 ng/L, with DMP (46.1 ± 23.4 ng/L), Diethyl phthalate (DEP) (93.3 ± 45.2 ng/L), and DiBP (174.2 ± 67.6 ng/L) as the primary components. Concentration levels follow a midstream (324.8 ± 107.3 ng/L) > upstream (200.8 ± 51.8 ng/L) > downstream (165.8 ± 71.6 ng/L) pattern. Attention should be directed towards the moderate ecological risks of DiBP in the upstream of HH, and both the upstream and midstream of CJ need consideration for the moderate ecological risks associated with Di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP). Conversely, in other regions, the associated risk with PAEs is either low or negligible. The main source of PAEs in Yellow River is attributed to the release of construction land, while in the Yangtze River Basin, it stems from the accumulation of pollutants in lakes and forests discharged into the river. These findings are instrumental for pinpointing sources of PAEs pollution and formulating control strategies in the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers, providing valuable insights for global PAEs research in other major rivers.

Critical new insights into the interactions of hexafluoropropylene oxide-dimer acid (GenX or HFPO-DA) with albumin at molecular and cellular levels.

A key characteristic to be elucidated, to address the harmful health risks of environmental perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), is their binding modes to serum albumin, the most abundant protein in blood. Hexafluoropropylene oxide-dimer acid (GenX or HFPO-DA) is a new industrial replacement for the widespread linear long-chain PFAS. However, the detailed interaction of new-generation short-chain PFAS with albumin is still lacking. Herein, the binding characteristics of bovine serum albumin (BSA) to GenX were explored at the molecular and cellular levels. It was found that this branched short-chain GenX could bind to BSA with affinity lower than that of legacy linear long-chain perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Site marker competitive study and molecular docking simulation revealed that GenX interacted with subdomain IIIA to form BSA-GenX complex. Consistent with its weaker affinity to albumin protein, the cytotoxicity of branched short-chain GenX was less susceptible to BSA binding compared with that of the linear long-chain PFOA. In contrast to the significant effects of strong BSA-PFOA interaction, the weak affinity of BSA-GenX binding did not influence the structure of protein and the cytotoxicity of GenX. The detailed characterization and direct comparisons of serum albumin interaction with new generation short-chain GenX will provide a better understanding for the toxicological properties of this new alternative.

Priority sources identification and risks assessment of heavy metal(loid)s in agricultural soils of a typical antimony mining watershed.

Heavy metal(loid) (HM) pollution in agricultural soils has become an environmental concern in antimony (Sb) mining areas. However, priority pollution sources identification and deep understanding of environmental risks of HMs face great challenges due to multiple and complex pollution sources coexist. Herein, an integrated approach was conducted to distinguish pollution sources and assess human health risk (HHR) and ecological risk (ER) in a typical Sb mining watershed in Southern China. This approach combines absolute principal component score-multiple linear regression (APCS-MLR) and positive matrix factorization (PMF) models with ER and HHR assessments. Four pollution sources were distinguished for both models, and APCS-MLR model was more accurate and plausible. Predominant HM concentration source was natural source (39.1%), followed by industrial and agricultural activities (23.0%), unknown sources (21.5%) and Sb mining and smelting activities (16.4%). Although natural source contributed the most to HM concentrations, it did not pose a significant ER. Industrial and agricultural activities predominantly contributed to ER, and attention should be paid to Cd and Sb. Sb mining and smelting activities were primary anthropogenic sources of HHR, particularly Sb and As contaminations. Considering ER and HHR assessments, Sb mining and smelting, and industrial and agricultural activities are critical sources, causing serious ecological and health threats. This study showed the advantages of multiple receptor model application in obtaining reliable source identification and providing better source-oriented risk assessments. HM pollution management, such as regulating mining and smelting and implementing soil remediation in polluted agricultural soils, is strongly recommended for protecting ecosystems and humans.

Bioaccessibility and health risk assessment of hydrophobic organic pollutants in soils from four typical industrial contaminated sites in China.

There have been reports of potential health risks for people from hydrophobic organic pollutants, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated hydrocarbons (PCHs), and organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs). When a contaminated site is used for residential housing or public utility and recreation areas, the soil-bound organic pollutants might pose a threat to human health. In this study, we investigated the contamination profiles and potential risks to human health of 15 PAHs, 6 PCHs, and 12 OPFRs in soils from four contaminated sites in China. We used an in vitro method to determine the oral bioaccessibility of soil pollutants. Total PAHs were found at concentrations ranging from 26.4 ng/g to 987 ng/g. PCHs (0.27‒14.3 ng/g) and OPFRs (6.30‒310 ng/g) were detected, but at low levels compared to earlier reports. The levels of PAHs, PCHs, and OPFRs released from contaminated soils into simulated gastrointestinal fluids ranged from 1.74% to 91.0%, 2.51% to 39.6%, and 1.37% to 96.9%, respectively. Based on both spiked and unspiked samples, we found that the oral bioaccessibility of pollutants was correlated with their logKow and molecular weight, and the total organic carbon content and pH of soils. PAHs in 13 out of 38 contaminated soil samples posed potential high risks to children. When considering oral bioaccessibility, nine soils still posed potential risks, while the risks in the remaining soils became negligible. The contribution of this paper is that it corrects the health risk of soil-bound organic pollutants by detecting bioaccessibility in actual soils from different contaminated sites.

A critical meta-analysis of predicted no effect concentrations for antimicrobial resistance selection in the environment.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the greatest threats to human health with a growing body of evidence demonstrating that selection for AMR can occur at environmental antimicrobial concentrations. Understanding the concentrations at which selection for resistance may occur is critical to help inform environmental risk assessments and highlight where mitigation strategies are required. A variety of experimental and data approaches have been used to determine these concentrations. However, there is minimal standardisation of existing approaches and no consensus on the relative merits of different methods. We conducted a semi-systematic literature review to collect and critically appraise available minimal selective concentration (MSC) and predicted no effect concentration for resistance (PNECR) data and the approaches used to derive them. There were 21 relevant articles providing 331 selective concentrations, ranging from 0.00087 µg/L (ciprofloxacin) to 2000 µg/L (carbenicillin). Meta-analyses of these data found that selective concentrations are highly compound-dependent, and only a subset of all antimicrobials have been the focus of most of the research. The variety of approaches that have been used, knowledge gaps and future research priorities were identified, as well as recommendations for those considering the selective risks of antimicrobials in the environment.

How can the failure mode and effect analysis improve the working processes in the ART center?

OBJECTIVE(S): Assisted reproductive technology (ART) Centers and laboratories perform complex tasks with patients and their gametes/embryos daily. The degree of problems/non-conformances in such surroundings must be minimized at zero point. This study aimed to establish the proper risk management system with well-defined process steps to prevent and eliminate problems/non-conformances. STUDY DESIGN: Failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) was introduced in the ART Center and the IVF laboratory. ART Center working processes were grouped into the categories of Clinical procedures, Forms, Identification, Personnel, Patients, and Facility. Working processes in the IVF laboratory were grouped into the categories of Consumables, Media, Equipment, Personnel, Working space, and Procedures. The traceability and safety of the working processes were evaluated before and after corrective measures regarding risk priority number (RPN). The severity (S), occurrence (O), and detection (D) index of problems/non-conformance were scaled from 1 to 5. The RPN was calculated by multiplying the SOD index, and the cut-off value for RPN was ≥12. RESULTS: The increased RPN was found in the following working processes of the ART Center: Embryo transfer and pregnancy (RPN = 18) in the category of Clinical procedures; Informed consents and agreements (RPN = 16) in the category Forms; Continuous education of the knowledge and skills (RPN = 12) in Personnel category; Space conditions (RPN = 24) and Equipment (RPN = 12) in the category Facility. In the IVF laboratory, increased RPN was found in the following working processes: Production of the plasticware (RPN = 12), Transport (RPN = 12) and Storage (RPN = 12) in the category Consumables; Media production (RPN = 16) in category Media; Alarm notification system for the critical equipment (RPN = 12) in category Equipment; Personnel number and qualifications (RPN = 12), Standard operative procedures (SOP) (RPN = 12) and Continuous education of the knowledge and skills (RPN = 12) in category Personnel; Working conditions (RPN = 18) and Security (RPN = 20) in Working space; Patient identification (RPN = 20), Biological samples identification (RPN = 20), Records (RPN = 12), ART procedure (RPN = 30), Embryo transfer (RPN = 30) and Cryopreservation and thawing of biological samples (RPN = 30) in category Procedures. According to the RPN score, corrective measures were implemented. Most RPN scores were reduced after the implementation of the electronic witnessing system in patient/sample tracing steps. Phases Patient identification and Biological sample identification showed a double reduction of RPN scores, from 20 to 10. Also, for critical steps in ART procedures, Embryo transfer, Cryopreservation, and thawing of biological samples, the RPN score was reduced from 30 to 10. Proper education of personnel was another corrective measure that significantly contributed to a reduction of RPN scores in most of the categories. CONCLUSION(S): The FMEA analysis is useful in recognizing the critical steps of an ART Center. The RPN scores for patient traceability were successfully reduced using the electronic witnessing system. Nonetheless, the study has certain limitations, as FMEA is highly dependent on the specific healthcare organization, adherence to national guidelines, and the subjective nature of SOD and RPN evaluations.

Natural background level, source apportionment and health risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in multi-layer aquifers of arid area in Northwest China.

Groundwater contaminated by potentially toxic elements has become an increasing global concern for human health. Therefore, it is crucial to identify the sources and health risks of potentially toxic elements, especially in arid areas. Despite the necessity, there is a notable research gap concerning the sources and risks of these elements within multi-layer aquifers in such regions. To address this gap, 54 phreatic and 24 confined groundwater samples were collected from an arid area in Northwest China. This study aimed to trace the sources and evaluate the human health risks of potentially toxic elements by natural background level (NBL), positive matrix factorization (PMF) model, and health risk model. Findings revealed exceeding levels of potentially toxic elements existed in phreatic and confined aquifers. Source apportionment and NBL results indicated that mineral dissolution, evaporation, redox reactions, and human activities were the main factors for elevated concentrations of potentially toxic elements. High Fe and Mn concentrations were attributed to reduction environments, while F accumulation resulted from slow runoff, and irrigation from the Yellow River. Due to high F levels, more than one-third of groundwater samples (phreatic: 33.14 %, confined: 56.22 %) posed non-carcinogenic health risks to population groups. Adults displayed higher carcinogenic risks (phreatic: 19.47 %, confined: 34.16 %) than infants (phreatic: 0 %, confined: 0 %) and children (phreatic: 1.26 %, confined: 7.97 %) owing to the toxic elements of Cr. The confined aquifer presented greater health risks than the phreatic aquifer. Consequently, controlling the levels of F and Cr in multi-layered aquifers is key to reducing health risks. These findings provide valuable insights into protecting groundwater from contamination by potentially toxic elements in multi-layered aquifers worldwide.

Population Modeling in Metal Risk Assessment: Extrapolation of Toxicity Tests to the Population Level.

Population models can be a useful tool for ecological risk assessment to increase ecological realism. In the present study, population models were used to extrapolate toxicity test results of four metals (Ag, Cu, Ni, Zn) to the population level. In total, three primary producers, five invertebrate species, and five fish species were covered. The ecological modeling-based laboratory to population effect extrapolation factor (ECOPEX factor), defined as the ratio of the predicted 10% effect concentration (EC10) at the population level and the observed EC10 for the laboratory toxicity test, ranged from 0.7 to 78.6, with a median of 2.8 (n = 27). Population modeling indicated clearly higher effect concentrations in most of the cases (ECOPEX factor >2 in 14 out of 27 cases), but in some cases the opposite was observed (in three out of 27 cases). We identified five main contributors to the variability in ECOPEX factors: (1) uncertainty about the toxicity model, (2) uncertainty about the toxicity mechanism of the metal, (3) uncertainty caused by test design, (4) impact of environmental factors, and (5) impact of population endpoint chosen. Part of the uncertainty results from a lack of proper calibration data. Nonetheless, extrapolation with population models typically reduced the variability in EC10 values between tests. To explore the applicability of population models in a regulatory context, we included population extrapolations in a species sensitivity distribution for Cu, which increased the hazardous concentration for 5% of species by a factor 1.5 to 2. Furthermore, we applied a fish population model in a hypothetical Water Framework Directive case using monitored Zn concentrations. This article includes recommendations for further use of population models in (metal) risk assessment. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1-21. © 2024 SETAC.

Environmental Risk Assessment of Time-Variable Toxicant Exposure with Toxicokinetic-Toxicodynamic Modeling of Sublethal Endpoints and Moving Time Windows: A Case Study with Ceriodaphnia dubia.

Toxicokinetic-toxicodynamic (TKTD) modeling has received increasing attention in terms of the regulatory environmental risk assessment of chemicals. This type of mechanistic model can integrate all available data from individual-level bioassays into a single framework and enable refined risk assessments by extrapolating from laboratory results to time-variable exposure scenarios, based, for instance, on surface water exposure modeling (e.g., FOCUS). Dynamic energy budget (DEB) models coupled with TKTD modules (DEB-TKTD) constitute the leading approach to assess and predict sublethal effects of chemicals on individual organisms. However, thorough case studies are rare. We provide a state-of-the-art example with the standard aquatic test species Ceriodaphnia dubia and the fungicide azoxystrobin, including all steps, from bespoke laboratory toxicity tests to model calibration and validation, through to environmental risk assessment. Following the framework proposed in the European Food Safety Authority Scientific Opinion from 2018, we designed bespoke good laboratory practice-compliant laboratory toxicity studies based on test guideline 211 of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and then identified robust parameter values from those data for all relevant model parameters through model calibration. The DEB-TKTD model, DEBtox2019, then informed the design of the validation experiment. Once validated, the model was used to perform predictions for a time-variable exposure scenario generated by FOCUS. A moving time-window approach was used to perform the environmental risk assessment. This assessment method reduces uncertainty in the risk assessment while maintaining consistency with the traditional measures of risk. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1-13. © 2024 Syngenta Crop Protection AG. ibacon GmbH and The Author(s). Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

Future climate suitability of Hemileia vastatrix in arabica coffee under CMIP6 scenarios.

BACKGROUND: Coffee (Coffea arabica L.) is one of the most important commodities today, with a high economic value worldwide. Coffee leaf rust (Hemileia vastatrix Berk. et Br.) has been showing a high impact on Brazilian coffee trees among the various diseases that attack coffee. The climate has a great influence on the development of diseases, especially when fungi are the causal agents. This study aimed to carry out the zoning of climate favorability for coffee leaf rust in the traditional and main coffee-producing regions of Brazil. The study was conducted in 13 locations in the states of Paraná, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Goiás and Bahia. Air temperature and daily precipitation data for the current scenario were collected using the WorldClim version 2.1 platform for the last climatological normal and future climate change data. The ideal climate conditions for coffee leaf rust consist of a mean air temperature ranging from 21 to 25 °C and precipitation >30 mm per month. The Coupled Model Intercomparison Projects scenarios associated with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports consisted of the Shared Socio-Economic Pathways SSP-1 2.6, SSP-2 4.5, SSP-3 7.0 and SSP-5 8.5, the latter being considered one of the most catastrophic. All steps to carry out the suitability zoning were performed in a tool using the QGIS geographic information system software. RESULTS: Zoning for coffee leaf rust had three classes: favorable, relatively favorable and unfavorable. Currently, the largest coffee-producing region in Brazil has 49.1% of its analyzed area classified as favorable, 39.2% as relatively favorable and 11.7% as unfavorable. In the current scenario, Patrocínio and Três Pontas are locations with high coffee production in which the favorable class is predominant. The state of Minas Gerais has an annual mean of 55.3% of its entire territory apt for the disease, with the highest occurrence between September and March. CONCLUSIONS: Climate change has a negative impact on the development of coffee leaf rust, mainly in the long term, as in the period of 2081-2100, in which the SSP-5 8.5 scenario led to a decrease in the favorable and unfavorable areas and an increase in the relatively favorable areas of 9.8%, 18.6% and 71.5% for the Brazilian territory, respectively. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Mechanisms of evolution and pollution source identification in groundwater quality of the Fen River Basin driven by precipitation.

Groundwater pollution has attracted widespread attention as a threat to human health and aquatic ecosystems. However, the mechanisms of pollutant enrichment and migration are unclear, and the spatiotemporal distributions of human health risks are poorly understood, indicating insufficient groundwater management and monitoring. This study assessed groundwater quality, human health risks, and pollutant sources in the Fen River Basin(FRB). Groundwater quality in the FRB is good, with approximately 87 % of groundwater samples rated as "excellent" or "good" in both the dry and rainy seasons. Significant precipitation elevates groundwater levels, making it more susceptible to human activities during the rainy season, slightly deteriorating water quality. Some sampling points in the southern of Taiyuan Basin are severely contaminated by mine drainage, with water quality index values up to 533.80, over twice the limit. Human health risks are mainly from As, F, NO3-, and Cr. Drinking water is the primary pathway of risk. From 2019 to 2020, the average non-carcinogenic risk of As, F, and NO3- increased by approximately 28 %, 170 % and 8.5 %, respectively. The average carcinogenic risk of As and Cr increased by 28 % and 786 %, the overall trend of human health risks is increasing. Source tracing indicates As and F mainly originate from geological factors, while NO3- and Cr are significantly influenced by human activities. Various natural factors, such as hydrogeochemical conditions and aquifer environments, and processes like evaporation, cation exchange, and nitrification/denitrification, affect pollutant concentrations. A multi-tracer approach, integrating hydrochemical and isotopic tracers, was employed to identify the groundwater pollution in the FRB, and the response of groundwater environment to pollutant enrichment. This study provides a scientific basis for the effective control of groundwater pollution at the watershed scale, which is very important in the Loess Plateau.

Distribution characteristics, sources and risk assessment of heavy metals in the surface sediments from the largest tributary of the Lancang River in the Tibet Plateau, China.

Angqu, positioned in the eastern expanse of the Tibet Plateau, claims the title of the largest tributary to the Lancang River. In October and December of 2018, in the sediment of Angqu, a comprehensive investigation was conducted on nine heavy metals-arsenic (As), manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and nickel (Ni). This investigation aimed to scrutinize the spatial and temporal distribution patterns of these metals, assess the pollution status and ecological risks associated with the sediments, and delve into the sources contributing to their presence. The research results indicate that the average concentrations of As, Hg, and Cd in Angqu sediments exceed the soil background values of Tibet, while the concentrations of other heavy metals are below the soil background values of Tibet. Notably, arsenic poses potential ecological risks. In Angqu sediments, the concentrations of Mn, Cu, Ni, and Pb are generally higher in the wet season, but the seasonal variations of heavy metals in Angqu sediments are not significant. The sediments in the Angqu Basin are predominantly affected by mercury Hg, Cd, and As, with varying degrees of pollution at different sampling points. In the main stream of Angqu (City section), Hg pollution has reached above a moderate level, whereas As pollution near the tributary is only slightly polluted. The analysis of heavy metal sources reveals that there are five primary contributors to heavy metals in surface sediments of Angqu: parent material, agricultural activities, groundwater, atmospheric deposition, and other unidentified sources. Mn, Cr, Pb, and Ni are mainly derived from soil parent material, accounting for more than 50%. About 60.82% of As comes primarily from groundwater. Zn and Cd are mainly sourced from agricultural activities, accounting for 41.25% and 34.33%, respectively. Additionally, 20.6% of Hg originates from atmospheric deposition.

People have different expectations for their own versus others' use of AI-mediated communication tools.

Artificial intelligence (AI) can enhance human communication, for example, by improving the quality of our writing, voice or appearance. However, AI mediated communication also has risks-it may increase deception, compromise authenticity or yield widespread mistrust. As a result, both policymakers and technology firms are developing approaches to prevent and reduce potentially unacceptable uses of AI communication technologies. However, we do not yet know what people believe is acceptable or what their expectations are regarding usage. Drawing on normative psychology theories, we examine people's judgements of the acceptability of open and secret AI use, as well as people's expectations of their own and others' use. In two studies with representative samples (Study 1: N = 477; Study 2: N = 765), we find that people are less accepting of secret than open AI use in communication, but only when directly compared. Our results also suggest that people believe others will use AI communication tools more than they would themselves and that people do not expect others' use to align with their expectations of what is acceptable. While much attention has been focused on transparency measures, our results suggest that self-other differences are a central factor for understanding people's attitudes and expectations for AI-mediated communication.

Lipoprotein(a) in interventional cardiology: identifying patients at highest risk of recurrent cardiovascular events through early recognition - a case based review.

INTRODUCTION: Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is linked to higher risks of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Current guideline recommendations are quite liberal on measuring Lp(a) (Class IIa, Level C), and may lead to underuse among (interventional) cardiologists. AREAS COVERED: This case-based narrative review outlines four clinical cases of patients with elevated Lp(a) to illustrate its pathophysiological impact on coronary artery disease (CAD). The expert consensus statements from the American Heart Association (AHA) and European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) served as the basis of this review. More recent publications, from 2023 to 2024, were accessed through the MEDLINE online library. EXPERT OPINION: We highlighted the importance of routine Lp(a) measurement in identifying patients at high risk for atherosclerosis, necessitating potent risk mitigation. Measuring Lp(a) helps clinicians identify which patients are at highest residual risk, who require potent pharmacological treatment and special attention during catheter interventions. As noninvasive and advanced intravascular imaging modalities evolve, future catheterization laboratories will integrate advanced imaging, diagnostics, and treatment, facilitating tailored patient care. Knowing Lp(a) levels is crucial in this context. While Lp(a)-lowering drugs are currently investigated in clinical trials, it is of paramount importance to know Lp(a) levels and strive toward aggressive management of other modifiable risk factors in patients with elevated Lp(a) and established symptomatic CAD being diagnosed or treated in catheterization laboratories.

A worldwide systematic review of ochratoxin A in various coffee products - human exposure and health risk assessment.

Coffee is one of the most commonly consumed beverages worldwide, so assessing its quality for potential health risks is essential. Therefore, this review aimed to determine the levels of ochratoxin A (OTA) in coffee worldwide and then estimate its human intake and health risks. The systematic search took place from June 1997 to April 2024 and 40 of 254 articles were selected based on the selection criteria. The results showed significant differences in average levels of OTA between countries, continents and coffee types (p < 0.001). Of 3256 samples, OTA was detected in 1778, accounting for 54.6% of the total, with the percentage of positive results varying between 7.5% and 100%. Only two studies reported OTA average levels in roasted coffee exceeding the maximum limit (ML) set by the European Commission (ML-EC = 5 µg/kg). The average OTA in soluble coffee was lower than ML-EC (10 µg/kg) in all studies, and in instant coffee, the level of OTA was higher than ML-EC (10 µg/kg) only in one study. The estimated daily intake (EDI) of OTA in all coffee types was lower than the provisional tolerable daily intake (PTDI) values set by joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) (14 ng/kg bw/day) and proposed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) (17 ng/kg bw/day). Non-carcinogenic risk assessment through coffee consumption indicated that the hazard quotient (HQ) was below the acceptable level, HQ = 1. The Margin of Exposure (MoE) for neoplastic effects was acceptable and unacceptable for non-neoplastic effects (NNE) in 4.5% (one of 22 cases) of the roasted and soluble coffees, but acceptable for all instant coffees. In conclusion, the study shows that the OTA content of coffee is not toxic to consumers worldwide. However, preventative measures should be taken, including inhibiting fungal growth and reducing OTA-producing fungal growth.

Priority screening of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in surface water: Comparing cell-based bioassays and exposure-activity ratios (EARs).

In this study, we compared a wide range of cell-based bioassays to the use of chemical analysis followed by exposure-activity ratio (EAR) and Toxicological Prioritization index (ToxPi) for prioritizing chemicals, sites, and hazard concerns in water samples. Surface water samples were collected from nine sites in three Central Pennsylvania streams and analyzed for a forty-six contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), including pesticides, personal care products, and pharmaceuticals. Cell-based reporter assays evaluated human and zebrafish molecular initiating events (MIEs) in endocrine and metabolic disruption, altered lipid metabolism, and oxidative stress. Bioassays showed that 12 out of 40 assays had at least one site with activity over the effect-based trigger (EBT) values. The receptors that exhibited the highest number of samples above the EBT that would be expected to cause toxicity were Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR, human and zebrafish), Pregnane X Receptor (PXR), Estrogen Receptor-beta (ERB), and Androgen Receptor (AR). Characterizing the collection sites by their bioactivity aligned closely with the stream in which samples were collected. The sum of all EARs for each chemical indicated that the pharmaceutical Carbamazepine and the pesticides Carbaryl and Atrazine posed the greatest concern. However, predicted activity and site prioritization based on individual chemical analysis and calculated EAR were different than those measured by bioassay, indicating that biologically active chemicals are present in the samples that were not included in the targeted analytes. Taken together, these data show that chemical analysis and EAR analysis are beneficial for prioritization of chemicals, whereas mechanism-based bioassays are more inclusive of known as well as unknown chemical contaminants and thus of more use for overall water quality analysis and site prioritization.