Existence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on ambient particulate matter samples: A nationwide study in Turkey.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and has been affecting the world since the end of 2019. The disease led to significant mortality and morbidity in Turkey, since the first case was reported on March 11th, 2020. Studies suggest a positive association between air pollution and SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of ambient particulate matters (PM), as potential carriers for SARS-CoV-2. Ambient PM samples in various size ranges were collected from 13 sites including urban and urban-background locations and hospital gardens in 10 cities across Turkey between 13th of May and 14th of June 2020 to investigate the possible presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on ambient PM. A total of 203 daily samples (TSP, n = 80; PM2.5, n = 33; PM2.5-10, n = 23; PM10µm, n = 19; and 6 size segregated PM, n = 48) were collected using various samplers. The N1 gene and RdRP gene expressions were analyzed for the presence of SARS-CoV-2, as suggested by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to real time (RT)-PCR and three-dimensional (3D) digital (d) PCR analysis, dual RdRP and N1 gene positivity were detected in 20 (9.8%) samples. Ambient PM-bound SARS-CoV-2 was analyzed quantitatively and the air concentrations of the virus ranged from 0.1 copies/m3 to 23 copies/m3. The highest percentages of virus detection on PM samples were from hospital gardens in Tekirdag, Zonguldak, and Istanbul, especially in PM2.5 mode. Findings of this study have suggested that SARS-CoV-2 may be transported by ambient particles, especially at sites close to the infection hot-spots. However, whether this has an impact on the spread of the virus infection remains to be determined.

Effects of Thyroid Function on Phosphodiester Concentrations in Skeletal Muscle and Liver: An In Vivo NMRS Study.

CONTEXT: Thyroid function is clinically evaluated by determination of circulating concentrations of thyrotropin (thyroid-stimulating hormone; TSH) and free thyroxine (fT4). However, a tissue-specific effector substrate of thyroid function is lacking. Energy-rich phosphorus-containing metabolites (PM) and phospholipids (PL) might be affected by thyroid hormone action and can be noninvasively measured by 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMRS). OBJECTIVES: To measure the actions of peripheral thyroid hormones on PM and PL tissue concentrations. DESIGN AND SETTING: A longitudinal, prospective pilot study was performed. PARTICIPANTS: Nine patients with hyperthyroidism (HYPER) and 4 patients with hypothyroidism (HYPO) were studied at baseline and 3 months after treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: High-field 1H/31P NMRS was used to assess profiles of PM, PL, and flux through oxidative phosphorylase in liver and skeletal muscle, as well as ectopic tissue lipid content. RESULTS: The concentrations of total skeletal muscle (m-) and hepatic (h-) phosphodiesters (PDE) and one of the PDE constituents, glycerophosphocholine (GPC), were lower in HYPER compared with HYPO (m-PDE: 1.4 ±â€…0.4 mM vs 7.4 ±â€…3.5 mM, P = 0.003; m-GPC: 0.9 ±â€…0.3 mM vs 6.7 ±â€…3.5 mM, P = 0.003; h-PDE: 4.4 ±â€…1.4 mM vs 9.9 ±â€…3.9 mM, P = 0.012; h-GPC: 2.2 ±â€…1.0 mM vs 5.1 ±â€…2.4 mM, P = 0.024). Both h-GPC (rho = -0.692, P = 0.018) and h-GPE (rho = -0.633, P = 0.036) correlated negatively with fT4. In muscle tissue, a strong negative association between m-GPC and fT4 (rho = -0.754, P = 0.003) was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Thyroxine is closely negatively associated with the PDE concentrations in liver and skeletal muscle. Normalization of thyroid dysfunction resulted in a decline of PDE in hypothyroidism and an increase in hyperthyroidism. Thus, PDE might be a sensitive tool to estimate tissue-specific peripheral thyroid hormone action.

PAH levels in a furniture-manufacturing city atmosphere.

In this study, in order to determine atmospheric PAH concentrations in Inegol/Turkey, ambient air samples were collected from two different sites representing industrial and uncontrolled furniture manufacturers regions. Sampling campaign took place between December 2017 and November 2018. Air samples were collected using high volume air samplers (HVAS) and PAH concentrations were determined in both gas and particulate phases. The mean of the atmospheric PAH concentrations obtained in the gas phase in the furniture workshops (FW) and industrial district (ID) regions were 697.82 ±â€¯637 ng/m3 and 772.92 ±â€¯864.23 ng/m3, respectively. The concentrations in the particulate phase in the regions were 413.52 ±â€¯430.23 ng/m3 and 342.40 ±â€¯527.48 ng/m3, respectively. The average total (gas + particlulate phases) concentration of ∑16PAH determined in the site of FW was 1111.34 ±â€¯1045.24 ng/m3 while that was 772.92 ±â€¯864.23 ng/m3 in ID. These values are over the ambient levels reported for urban sites wherein big industries exist around the world. Additionally, the average of particle phase percentage was 30% because of nearby combustion sources. The determination of possible sources of PAHs in the regions was performed using principal component analysis (PCA). PCA results showed that the main sources of pollutants of the regions are intertwined (combustion, traffic, industries). However, the most effective source is thought to be uncontrolled combustion of furniture wastes as fuel for residential heating. Health risks for the citizens were calculated for both regions and were found not to be at high-class risk.