The Impact of Cytokines on Health-Related Quality of Life in Adolescents with Allergic Rhinitis.

BACKGROUND: Frequent episodes of nasal symptoms are the usual clinical manifestations (CM) of allergic rhinitis (AR) and have a significant negative impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adolescents. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to test the hypothesis that cytokines in nasal mucus may be associated with HRQoL in adolescents with AR. METHODS: European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions 3 Level Version (EQ-5D-3L), "The Adolescent Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire" (AdolRQLQ) and the Total 4 Symptom Score (T4SS) scoring system were administered to 113 adolescents with AR, nonallergic rhinitis (NAR) and to healthy control subjects. Nasal secretions were sampled and tested for 13 cytokines using a multiplex flow cytometric bead assay. RESULTS: The AR group had significantly lower EQ-5D-3L (0.661 ± 0.267 vs. 0.943 ± 0.088; p < 0.001) and higher AdolRQLQ total scores (2.76 ± 1.01 vs. 1.02 ± 0.10; p < 0.001) compared to the control group. The AR group had higher concentrations of IL-1ß (p = 0.002), IL-6 (p = 0.031), IL-8 (p < 0.001), IL17-A (p = 0.013) and IL-18 (p = 0.014) compared to the control group, and IL-1ß, IL-6, IL17-A and IL-18 were significantly (p < 0.050) increased with disease progression. Cytokines IL-1ß, IL-6, as well as severe CM, were identified as significant predictors of lower HRQoL in adolescents with AR. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified IL-1ß, IL-6, as well as severe CM, as predictors of lower HRQoL in adolescents with AR. However, these results should only serve as a starting point for additional confirmation research.

A thorough analysis of the occurrence, removal and environmental risks of organic micropollutants in a full-scale hybrid membrane bioreactor fed by hospital wastewater.

The Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive recent draft issued last October 2022 pays attention to contaminants of emerging concern including organic micropollutants (OMPs) and requires the removal of some of them at large urban wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) calling for their upgrading. Many investigations to date have reported the occurrence of a vast group of OMPs in the influent and many technologies have been tested for their removal at a lab- or pilot-scale. Moreover, it is well-known that hospital wastewater (HWW) contains specific OMPs at high concentration and therefore its management and treatment deserves attention. In this study, a 1-year investigation was carried out at a full-scale membrane bioreactor (MBR) treating mainly HWW. To promote the removal of OMPs, powdered activated carbon (PAC) was added to the bioreactor at 0.1 g/L and 0.2 g/L which resulted in the MBR operating as a hybrid MBR. Its performance was tested for 232 target and 90 non-target OMPs, analyzed by UHPLC-QTOF-MS using a direct injection method. A new methodology was defined to select the key compounds in order to evaluate the performance of the treatments. It was based on their frequency, occurrence, persistence to removal, bioaccumulation and toxicity. Finally, an environmental risk assessment of the OMP residues was conducted by means of the risk quotient approach. The results indicate that PAC addition increased the removal of most of the key OMPs (e.g., sulfamethoxazole, diclofenac, lidocaine) and OMP classes (e.g., antibiotics, psychiatric drugs and stimulants) with the highest loads in the WWTP influent. The hybrid MBR also reduced the risk in the receiving water as the PAC dosage increased mainly for spiramycin, lorazepam, oleandomycin. Finally, uncertainties and issues related to the investigation being carried out at full-scale under real conditions are discussed.

Antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of Erica spiculifolia extracts and fractions.

There is little data on the phytochemical/pharmacological properties of Erica spiculifolia Salisb. (syn. Bruckentalia spiculifolia (Salisb.) Rchb.). This study examines the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of different extracts and fractions of E. spiculifolia in vitro on isolated rat peritoneal macrophages, in the carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema test, BSA test, and two complementary antioxidant assays. Ethanolic extracts of leaves, flowers, and aboveground parts, and petroleum ether, ether, ethyl acetate, and water fractionations of the ethanol extract of E. spiculifolia applied at doses of 50-200 mg/kg p.o. exhibited dose-dependent anti-inflammatory activity comparable with indomethacin. All tested samples, except for the petroleum ether fraction, exerted excellent in vitro antioxidant activity, and all of them exhibited significant and similar inhibition of BSA denaturation comparable with diclofenac. Ethanolic extract of the aboveground parts obtained by percolation, ethyl acetate and water fractions had the highest efficiency, attenuating inflammation by more than 50% in the lowest applied concentration alongside exceptional radical scavenging activity.

Simultaneous determination of macrolides in water samples by solid-phase extraction and capillary electrophoresis.

Solid-phase extraction (SPE) coupled with capillary electrophoresis (CE) for the determination of macrolide antibiotics (azithromycin, clarithromycin, roxithromycin, tylosin) and tiamulin in water samples was described in this article. These compounds were extracted with different types of sorbents ( Oasis HLB, C18, C8, SDB, and Strata-X) and different masses of sorbents (60 mg, 200 mg, and 500 mg) using different organic solvents (methanol, ethanol, and acetonitrile) and different pH values of water samples (pH 7.00, 8.00, and 9.00). It was found that the highest extraction efficiency of the studied compounds was obtained with 200 mg/3 mL C18 cartridges with methanol as eluent at pH 9.00 of the water sample. The developed SPE-CE method for macrolide antibiotics and tiamulin was validated for linearity, precision, repeatability, the limit of detection (LOD), the limit of quantification (LOQ), and recovery. Good linearity was obtained in the range of 0.3-30 mg L-1 depending on the drug, with correlation coefficients higher than 0.9958 in all cases except clarithromycin (0.9873). Expanded measurement uncertainties were calculated for each pharmaceutical, accounting for 20.31 % (azithromycin), 38.33 % (tiamulin), 28.95 % (clarithromycin), 26.99 % (roxithromycin), and 21.09 % (tiamulin). Uncertainties associated with precision and calibration curves contributed the most to the combined measurement uncertainty. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of production waste-water from the pharmaceutical industry.

Optimisation of Solid-Phase Extraction and LC-MS/MS Analysis of Six Breast Cancer Drugs in Patient Plasma Samples.

In the development of bioanalytical LC-MS methods for the determination of drugs in plasma samples in a clinical setting, adequate sample preparation is of utmost importance. The main goals are to achieve the selective extraction of the analytes of interest and attain thorough matrix removal while retaining acceptable ecological properties, cost-effectiveness, and high throughput. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) offers a versatile range of options, from the selection of an appropriate sorbent to the optimisation of the washing and elution conditions. In this work, the first SPE method for the simultaneous extraction of six anticancer drugs used in novel therapeutic combinations for advanced breast cancer treatment-palbociclib, ribociclib, abemaciclib, anastrozole, letrozole, and fulvestrant-was developed. The following sorbent chemistries were tested: octylsilyl (C8), octadecylsilyl (C18), hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB), mixed-mode cation-exchange (MCX and X-C), and mixed-mode weak cation-exchange (WCX), with different corresponding elution solvents. The samples were analysed using LC-MS/MS, with a phenyl column (150 × 4.6 mm, 2.5 µm). The best extraction recoveries (≥92.3%) of all analytes were obtained with the C8 phase, using methanol as the elution solvent. The optimised method was validated in the clinically relevant ranges, showing adequate precision (inter-day RSD ≤ 14.3%) and accuracy (inter-day bias -12.7-13.5%). Finally, its applicability was successfully proven by the analysis of samples from breast cancer patients.

Study of the Influence of the Wastewater Matrix in the Adsorption of Three Pharmaceuticals by Powdered Activated Carbon.

The use of powdered activated carbon (PAC) as an absorbent has become a promising option to upgrade wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) that were not designed to remove pharmaceuticals. However, PAC adsorption mechanisms are not yet fully understood, especially with regard to the nature of the wastewater. In this study, we tested the adsorption of three pharmaceuticals, namely diclofenac, sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim, onto PAC under four different water matrices: ultra-pure water, humic acid solution, effluent and mixed liquor from a real WWTP. The adsorption affinity was defined primarily by the pharmaceutical physicochemical properties (charge and hydrophobicity), with better results obtained for trimethoprim, followed by diclofenac and sulfamethoxazole. In ultra-pure water, the results show that all pharmaceuticals followed pseudo-second order kinetics, and they were limited by a boundary layer effect on the surface of the adsorbent. Depending on the water matrix and compound, the PAC capacity and the adsorption process varied accordingly. The higher adsorption capacity was observed for diclofenac and sulfamethoxazole in humic acid solution (Langmuir isotherm, R2 > 0.98), whereas better results were obtained for trimethoprim in the WWTP effluent. Adsorption in mixed liquor (Freundlich isotherm, R2 > 0.94) was limited, presumably due to its complex nature and the presence of suspended solids.

The GSTO2 (rs156697) Polymorphism Modifies Diabetic Nephropathy Risk.

Background and Objectives: In the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its complications, genetic and environmental factors play important roles. Diabetic nephropathy (DN), one of the major microangiopathic chronic diabetic complications, is associated with an increased risk of major cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. The present study was designed to investigate the possible modifying effect of glutathione transferase polymorphisms (GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1 rs1138272/rs1695, GSTO1 rs4925 and GSTO2 rs156697) in the susceptibility to T2DM and diabetic nephropathy. Materials and Methods: GSTM1 and GSTT1 deletion polymorphisms were determined by multiplex PCR, whereas GSTO1, GSTO2, and GSTP1 polymorphisms were determined by the real-time PCR in 160 T2DM patients and 248 age- and gender-matched controls. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) were measured by ELISA. Results: Among six investigated GST polymorphisms, a significant association between the GST genotypes and susceptibility for development of diabetes mellitus was found for the GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1 (rs1138272) and GSTO1 polymorphisms. When the GST genotypes' distribution in diabetes patients was assessed in the subgroups with and without diabetic nephropathy, a significant association was found only for the GSTO2 rs156697 polymorphism. Diabetic patients, carriers of the GSTM1 null, GSTT1 null and variant GSTO1*AA genotypes, had significantly increased levels of AGEs in comparison with carriers of the GSTM1 active, GSTT1 active and referent GSTO1*CC genotypes (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.004, respectively). Conclusions: The present study supports the hypothesis that GST polymorphisms modulate the risk of diabetes and diabetic nephropathy and influence the AGEs concentration, suggesting the potential regulatory role of these enzymes in redox homeostasis disturbances.

Ecophysiological response of Populus alba L. to multiple stress factors during the revitalisation of coal fly ash lagoons at different stages of weathering.

The enormous quantities of fly ash (FA) produced by thermal power plants is a global problem and safe, sustainable approaches to reduce the amount and its toxic effects are still being sought. Vegetation cover comprising long-living species can help reduce FA dump-related environmental health issues. However, the synergistic effect of multiple abiotic factors, like drought, low organic matter content, a deficit of essential nutrients, alkaline pH, and phytotoxicity due to high potentially toxic element (PTE) and soluble salt content, limits the number of species that can grow under such stressful conditions. Thus, we hypothesised that Populus alba L., which spontaneously colonised two FA disposal lagoons at the 'Nikola Tesla A' thermal power plant (Obrenovac, Serbia) 3 years (L3) and 11 years (L11) ago, has high restoration potential thanks to its stress tolerance. We analysed the basic physical and chemical properties of FA at different weathering stages, while the ecophysiological response of P. alba to multiple stresses was determined through biological indicators [the bioconcentration factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TF) for PTEs (As, B, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Se, and Zn)] and by measuring the following parameters: photosynthetic efficiency and chlorophyll concentration, non-enzymatic antioxidant defence (carotenoids, anthocyanins, and phenols), oxidative stress (malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations), and total antioxidant capacity (IC50) to neutralise DPPH free radical activity. Unlike at L3, toxic As, B, and Zn concentrations in leaves induced oxidative stress in P. alba at L11, shown by the higher MDA levels, lower vitality, and reduced synthesis of chlorophyll, carotenoids, and total antioxidant activity, suggesting its stress tolerance decreases with long-term exposure to adverse abiotic factors. Although P. alba is a fast-growing species with good metal accumulation ability and high stress tolerance, it has poor stabilisation potential for substrates with high As and B concentrations, making it highly unsuitable for revitalising such habitats.

Utility of salivary mycophenolic acid concentration monitoring: Modeling and Monte Carlo validation approach.

The results of the previous studies demonstrated an association between mycophenolic acid (MPA) exposure, serum albumin level (ALB), and adverse effects in kidney transplant patients. The aim was the identification of mathematical correlation and association between both, total and unbound MPA concentration in relation to ALB, body mass (BM), age and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in stable kidney transplant recipients. Furthermore, investigation was conducted with the aim to clarify the role of salivary concentration (CSAL ) of MPA in adverse effect profile. In order to analyze the association between total and salivary concentration of MPA in relation to ALB, BM, age and eGFR, a least squares method for determining the correlation between these parameters was performed. In addition, derived mathematical model based on experimental data can also be performed and simulated through the Monte Carlo (MC) approach. Adverse effects were grouped according to the nature of symptoms and scored by a previously published validated system. Numerically calculated values of CSAL from the models [CSAL  = f(ALB, BM, age, eGFR, CP ) = a00 + a10 *(ALB, BM, age, eGFR) + a01 *CP ] were then compared with those from validation set of patients, where the best fitting model was for ALB [CSAL  = 54.96-1.64*ALB +13.4*CP ]. Adverse effects estimation showed the difference in esthetic score, positively correlated with CSAL in the lower ALB group (145.41 ± 219.02 vs. 354.08 ± 262.19; with statistical significance p = .014) and almost significant for gastrointestinal score (167.69 ± 174.79 vs. 347.55 ± 320.95; p = .247). The study showed that CSAL MPA may contribute to management of adverse effects, but these findings require confirmation of clinical utility.

Behavioral and Dietary Habits That Could Influence Both COVID-19 and Non-Communicable Civilization Disease Prevention-What Have We Learned Up to Now?

The massive expansion of the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has urged countries to introduce lockdowns and set restrictive actions worldwide. The focus of the studies was to determine how COVID-19 induces damage to the lungs in order to find an alternative or adjuvant therapy that could lead to preventing COVID-19 or at least ameliorating it. This paper aims to survey the literature and provide new insights into behavioral and dietary habits that could influence the prevention of COVID-19. Maintaining an adequate mental health status, sleep, and taking moderate exercise are often disrupted in the conditions of lockdown and are followed by weakened immunity. Mediterranean and vegetarian diets are superior to other eating patterns in terms of immunity boosting and fighting COVID-19. Our study showed how adequate hydration, green tea intake, and supplementation with vitamins D, C, and E can increase our chances of avoiding the infection and even help us sleep better. Another focus of the research was on determining what level of hygiene really increases one's chances of not contracting SARS-CoV-2, but this seems a little counter-intuitive at first. Since an immunocompromised state is a familiar predisposing factor for all contagious diseases, maintaining healthy behavioral and dietary habits could be a crucial step in boosting immunity and preventing COVID-19.

Influence of Organic Matter on the Sorption of Cefdinir, Memantine and Praziquantel on Different Soil and Sediment Samples.

Pharmaceuticals are known for their great effects and applications in the treatment and suppression of various diseases in human and veterinary medicine. The development and modernization of science and technologies have led to a constant increase in the production and consumption of various classes of pharmaceuticals, so they pose a threat to the environment, which can be subjected to the sorption process on the solid phase. The efficiency of sorption is determined by various parameters, of which the physicochemical properties of the compound and the sorbent are very important. One of these parameters that determine pharmaceutical mobility in soil or sediment is the soil−water partition coefficient normalized to organic carbon (Koc), whose determination was the purpose of this study. The influence of organic matter, suspended in an aqueous solution of pharmaceutical (more precisely: cefdinir, memantine, and praziquantel), was studied for five different types of soil and sediment samples from Croatia. The linear, Freundlich, and Dubinin−Raduskevich sorption isotherms were used to determine specific constants such as the partition coefficient Kd, which directly describes the strength of sorbate and sorbent binding. The linear model proved to be the best with the highest correlation coefficients, R2 > 0.99. For all three pharmaceuticals, a positive correlation between sorption affinity described by Kd and Koc and the amount of organic matter was demonstrated.

Photocatalytic Activity of TiO2 for the Degradation of Anticancer Drugs.

To prevent water pollution, photocatalysis is often used to remove small molecules such as drugs by generating reactive species. This study aimed to determine the photocatalytic activity of two anticancer drugs, imatinib and crizotinib, and to investigate various influences that may alter the kinetic degradation rate and ultimately the efficacy of the process. In order to obtain optimal parameters for the removal of drugs with immobilized TiO2, the mutual influence of the initial concentration of the contaminant at environmentally relevant pH values was investigated using the response surface modeling approach. The faster kinetic rate of photocatalysis was obtained at pH 5 and at the smallest applied concentration of both drugs. The photocatalytic efficiency was mostly decreased by adding various inorganic salts and organic compounds to the drug mixture. Regarding the degradation mechanism of imatinib and crizotinib, hydroxyl radicals and singlet oxygen showed a major role in photochemical reactions. The formation of seven degradation products for imatinib and fifteen for crizotinib during the optimal photocatalytic process was monitored by high-resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-QqTOF). Since the newly formed products may pose a hazard to the environment, their toxicity was studied using Vibrio fischeri, where the significant luminescence inhibition was assessed for the mixture of crizotinib degradants during the photocatalysis from 90 to 120 min.

Removal of micropollutants using a membrane bioreactor coupled with powdered activated carbon - A statistical analysis approach.

The occurrence of micropollutants in wastewater is largely documented as well as the environmental risk posed by their residues in the aquatic environment. Many investigations have been carried out and plan to study and improve their removal efficiency in existing wastewater treatment plants. At the same time, efforts are being made to develop new technologies or upgrade existing ones to increase the removal of a selection of micropollutants. Due to the great variability in their chemical and physical properties, it would be advisable to find representative compounds or identify the factors which most influence the removal mechanisms under specific conditions. This study analyses the removal efficiencies of a great number of micropollutants in wastewater treated in a membrane bioreactor coupled with powdered activated carbon (PAC), which was the subject of a review article we have recently published. The main operational parameters (i.e. PAC dosage, PAC retention time and sludge retention time) and compound physico-chemical properties (i.e. octanol-water distribution coefficient, charge and molecular weight) were first selected on the basis of a dedicated screening step and then an attempt was carried out to clarify their influence on the removal of micropollutants from wastewater during its treatment. To this end, a statistical analysis, mainly based on exploratory methods (cluster analysis and principal component analysis) and regression analysis, was carried out to compare and discuss the different results published in the scientific literature included in the cited review article. It emerged, that, based on the collected dataset, micropollutant charge and LogDow seem to play the most important role in the removal mechanisms occurring in MBR coupled with PAC.

Sorption of cefdinir, memantine, praziquantel and trimethoprim in sediment and soil samples.

The everyday use of various pharmaceuticals to treat humans or animals means that they are increasingly found in the environment. Contamination of the soil can cause the active ingredients to be strongly sorbed to the soil or sediment. In the worst case, they can also be expected to occur in the aquatic environment due to their different polarity. In this study, four drugs from different therapeutic classes (trimetoprim, memantine, cefdinir, praziquantel) were used in dissolved form in two sediment and three soil samples to obtain data that can describe their fate and behavior in the environment. The sorption affinities of the pharmaceuticals were described using linear, Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich sorption isotherms. The highest Kd values were obtained for cefdinir, while memantine and praziquantel tended to be present in water due to their very low sorption coefficients. The studied influence of pH showed a negative trend for memantine and trimetoprim, while an increase in ionic strength resulted in higher Kd values for all drugs. The sorption mechanism for all tested samples was best described by the pseudo-secondary kinetic model (R2 > 0.9999).

The Phytoremediation Potential and Physiological Adaptive Response of Tamarix tetrandra Pall. Ex M. Bieb. during the Restoration of Chronosequence Fly Ash Deposits.

The challenging process of identifying and selecting plant species suited to the phytoremediation of fly ash (FA) dumps involves studying their functional properties and physiological response to a deficit of essential elements and toxicity from heavy metal(loid)-induced oxidative stress. We hypothesised that Tamarix tetrandra has high potential to be used for the phytoremediation of FA deposit sites thanks to its secretion strategy and antioxidative system. In this study, this hypothesis was examined by determining the bioconcentration and translocation factors for As, B, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Se and Zn at the FA disposal lagoons at the 'Nikola Tesla A' thermal power plant in Obrenovac, Serbia, three (lagoon L1) and eleven (lagoon L2) years after the phytoremediation process had begun, and by measuring parameters of photosynthetic efficiency and chlorophyll concentration, non-enzymatic antioxidant defence (carotenoids, anthocyanins and phenolics), oxidative stress (concentration of malondialdehyde-MDA) and total antioxidant capacity to neutralise DPPH free radical activity. Tamarisk not only showed the ability to phytostabilise As, Cr and Ni and to accumulate low-availability Mn, Zn and Cu, but also the potential to maintain the structural and functional integrity of cell membranes and stable vitality at L1 under multiple stress conditions due to the high synthesis of phenols and tolerance to increased salinity. However, toxic concentrations of B and Se in leaves induced oxidative stress in tamarisk at L2 (reflected in higher MDA content and lower vitality) and also decreased the synthesis of chlorophyll, carotenoids, anthocyanins and total antioxidant activity. In addition, the prooxidative behaviour of phenols in the presence of spin-stabilising metals from FA could also have resulted in their weaker antioxidant protection at L2. These findings indicate that the choice of tamarisk was justified, but only at the beginning of the phytoremediation process because its presence contributed to an improvement in the harsh conditions at FA deposit sites and the creation of more favourable conditions for new plant species. This knowledge can be of great importance when planning sustainable ash deposit site management worldwide.

Plasma activity of the antioxidant enzymes in predicting diabetic nephropathy progression.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to examine whether biomarkers of oxidative stress are predictors of diabetic nephropathy (DN) progression. METHODS: The study involved 45 patients with type 2 diabetes and DN and 15 healthy controls. Patients were followed for 3 years and the annual percentage change in eGFR was used to estimate the progression of DN. Patients with an annual percentage change in eGFR above the cutoff value of - 5.48%/year were classified in group 1, those with an annual percentage change in eGFR ≤ - 5.48%/year in group 2. RESULTS: The 28 patients in group 1 had the annual percentage change in eGFR of - 4.78 and 39.12%/year, and for the 17 patients in group 2 it ranged from - 24.86 to - 6.18%/year. At the onset of the study no significant differences were found between the groups in demographic, clinical or laboratory parameters. Plasma activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were significantly lower in patients than in the controls. During 3-year study kidney function and size changed insignificantly in group 1, while eGFR and kidney size decreased and proteinuria increased significantly in group 2. Multivariate linear regression analysis selected male gender, duration of diabetes, systolic blood pressure, fasting serum glucose, urine protein/creatinine ratio as factors associated with DN progression. Plasma activity of GPX and SOD were selected as positive predictors of annual percentage change in eGFR. CONCLUSION: Besides already known factors, plasma activity of GPX and SOD were found to be significant independent predictors of DN progression.

Chemical Fractionation, Environmental, and Human Health Risk Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements in Soil of Industrialised Urban Areas in Serbia.

The primary focus of this research was the chemical fractionation of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and their presence in several industrialised cities in Serbia. Furthermore, their origin, contamination levels, and environmental and human health risks were assessed. The results indicated that the examined soils were characterised by slightly higher Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn levels than those set by European and national regulations. These elevated Cu, Pb, and Zn concentrations were caused by intensive traffic and proximity to industry, whereas the higher Ni levels were a result of the specific geological substrate of the soil in the study area. The environmental risk was found to be low and there was no enrichment/contamination of the soil with these elements, except in the case of Pb, for which moderate to significant enrichment was found. Lead also poses a potential non-carcinogenic risk to children through ingestion and requires special attention due to the fact that a significant proportion of this element was present in the tested soil samples in a potentially available form. Analysis of the health risks showed that children are more at risk than adults from contaminants and that ingestion is the riskiest exposure route. The carcinogenic risk was within the acceptable limits.

Fractionation of Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in Urban Soils from Salzburg, Thessaloniki and Belgrade: An Insight into Source Identification and Human Health Risk Assessment.

Concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) (Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) were measured in topsoil samples collected from parks in the cities of Salzburg (Austria), Thessaloniki (Greece), and Belgrade (Serbia) in order to assess the distribution of PTEs in the urban environment, discriminate natural (lithogenic) and anthropogenic contributions, identify possible sources of pollution, and compare levels of pollution between the cities. An assessment of the health risks caused by exposure to PTEs through different pathways was also conducted. The study revealed that, with the exception of Pb in Salzburg, levels of PTEs in the soils in polluted urban parks were higher than in unpolluted ones, but still lower than those recorded in other European soils. Results of sequential analyses showed that Al, Cr, and Ni were found in residual phases, proving their predominantly lithogenic origin and their low mobility. In contrast, the influence of anthropogenic factors on Cu, Pb, and Zn was evident. Site-dependent variations showed that the highest concentrations of As, Cu, Pb, and Zn of anthropogenic origin were recorded in Salzburg, while the highest levels of Al, Cr, and Ni of lithogenic origin were recorded in Belgrade and Thessaloniki, which reflects the specificity of the geological substrates. Results obtained for the health risk assessment showed that no human health risk was found for either children or adults.

Activated carbon coupled with advanced biological wastewater treatment: A review of the enhancement in micropollutant removal.

This study consists of a review on the removal efficiencies of a wide spectrum of micropollutants (MPs) in biological treatment (mainly membrane bioreactor) coupled with activated carbon (AC) (AC added in the bioreactor or followed by an AC unit, acting as a post treatment). It focuses on how the presence of AC may promote the removal of MPs and the effects of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in wastewater. Removal data collected of MPs are analysed versus AC dose if powdered AC is added in the bioreactor, and as a function of the empty bed contact time in the case of a granular activated carbon (GAC) column acting as a post treatment. Moreover, the enhancement in macropollutant (organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus compounds) removal is analysed as well as the AC mitigation effect towards membrane fouling and, finally, how sludge properties may change in the presence of AC. To sum up, it was found that AC improves the removal of most MPs, favouring their sorption on the AC surface, promoted by the presence of different functional groups and then enhancing their degradation processes. DOM is a strong competitor in sorption on the AC surface, but it may promote the transformation of GAC in a biologically activated carbon thus enhancing all the degradation processes. Finally, AC in the bioreactor increases sludge floc strength and improves its settling characteristics and sorption potential.

Miniaturized analytical methods for determination of environmental contaminants of emerging concern - A review.

The determination of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in environmental samples has become a challenging and critical issue. The present work focuses on miniaturized analytical strategies reported in the literature for the determination of CECs. The first part of the review provides brief overview of CECs whose monitoring in environmental samples is of particular significance, namely personal care products, pharmaceuticals, endocrine disruptors, UV-filters, newly registered pesticides, illicit drugs, disinfection by-products, surfactants, high technology rare earth elements, and engineered nanomaterials. Besides, an overview of downsized sample preparation approaches reported in the literature for the determination of CECs in environmental samples is provided. Particularly, analytical methodologies involving microextraction approaches used for the enrichment of CECs are discussed. Both solid phase- and liquid phase-based microextraction techniques are highlighted devoting special attention to recently reported approaches. Special emphasis is placed on newly developed materials used for extraction purposes in microextraction techniques. In addition, recent contributions involving miniaturized analytical flow techniques for the determination of CECs are discussed. Besides, the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of point of need and portable devices have been identified and critically compared with chromatographic methods coupled to mass chromatography. Finally, challenging aspects regarding miniaturized analytical methods for determination of CECs are critically discussed.