Spatio-temporal variability of potentially toxic elements' pollution in road-deposited sediments according to health risk thresholds: a meta-analysis.

Road deposited sediments (RDS) are important sinks of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), which may have a significant impact on human health. A systematic review of published papers on the PTEs occurrence in RDS was carried out. The main goal was to assess the global RDS contamination by PTEs and human health risks linked with anthropogenic activities. A systematic search was made to collect information about the most cited PTEs in the published literature and perform a statistical analysis. Subsequently, health risks were assessed for 35 different areas worldwide. PTE concentrations showed high variability, and means were multiple times higher than the corresponding consensus-based threshold effect concentrations (5.2-, 10.3-, 5.3-, 3-, 7.3-, and 3.6-fold higher for Zn, Pb, Ni, Cr, Cu, and Cd, respectively). PTEs concentrations were ranked as Zn > Pb > Cu > Mn > Cr > Ni > Cd. Non carcinogenic risks followed the trend Pb > Cu > Zn > Cd. Lead is responsible for the highest significant non carcinogenic risk to human health. Unacceptable exposition to carcinogenic risks is present in most areas. The top carcinogenic risk areas were Singapore > Beijing > Yixing > Shanghai > Zhuzhou for adult male, Dresden > Singapore > Ulsan > Huludao for adult females, and Dresden > Singapore > Ulsan > Huludao for children. Highest chromium and nickel carcinogenic risks occurred in Singapore, Cd in Dresden, and Cu in Huludao. Highest RDS contamination was seen in industrial areas due to pollutants deposition. Highest Zn, Cu, Cd, and Pb concentrations occur in densely urbanized areas due to heavy-duty vehicular exhausts.

Traffic-related polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) occurrence in a tropical environment.

Traffic-related PAH emissions over the urban area of Natal, Brazil, have shown a significant increase because of automobile usage and have become a major concern due to their potential effects on human health and the environment. Therefore, this research measured PAH contamination on major roads and river compartments in a tropical catchment (Pitimbu River) over an expanding urban area. Road PAH concentrations spanned from 692 to 2098 ng g-1 and suggest the predominance of heavy (diesel-powered) and light-duty (gasoline plus alcohol-powered) vehicle emission sources. High concentrations of naphthalene (515 ng g-1) and acenaphthylene (145 ng g-1) were found in river sediments, indicating oil-related spillage and low-temperature combustion sources. Diagnostic ratios indicated the prevalence of biomass, coal and petroleum combustion processes and refined oil products. The ecological risk assessment indicated an ecological contamination risk ranging between low and moderate because of naphthalene and acenaphthylene concentrations higher than ERL threshold values. Toxicity risks caused by PAHs were assessed by using the BaP-equivalent carcinogenic power (BaPE). Results indicated that both RDS and riverbed sediment samples are at low toxicity risk.

The First Optimization Process from Cultivation to Flavonoid-Rich Extract from Moringa oleifera Lam. Leaves in Brazil.

Flavonoids are significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents and have multiple potential health applications. Moringa oleifera is globally recognized for its nutritional and pharmacological properties, correlated to the high flavonoid content in its leaves. However, the bioactive compounds found in plants may vary according to the cultivation, origin, season, and extraction process used, making it difficult to extract reliable raw material. Hence, this study aimed to standardize the best cultivation and harvest season in Brazil and the best extraction process conditions to obtain a flavonoid-rich extract from M. oleifera as a final product. Firstly, ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) was optimized to reach the highest flavonoid content by three-level factorial planning and response surface methodology (RSM). The optimal cultivation condition was mineral soil fertilizer in the drought season, and the optimized extraction was with 80% ethanol and 13.4 min of extraction time. The flavonoid-rich extract was safe and significantly decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells. Lastly, the major flavonoids characterized by HPLC-ESI-QTRAP-MS/MS were compounds derived from apigenin, quercetin, and kaempferol glycosides. The results confirmed that it was possible to standardize the flavonoid-rich extract leading to a standardized and reliable raw material extracted from M. oleifera leaves.

Determination of amino acids by capillary electrophoresis-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry: an evaluation of different protein hydrolysis procedures.

In this work, a CE equipment, online hyphenated to an IT MS analyzer by a linear sheath liquid interface promoting ESI, was used to develop a method for quantitative determination of amino acids. Under appropriate conditions (BGE composition, 0.8% HCOOH, 20% CH3OH; sheath liquid composition, 0.8% HCOOH, 60% methanol; V ESI, +4.50 kV), analytical curves of all amino acids from 3 to 80 mg/L were recorded presenting acceptable linearity (r >0.99). LODs in the range of 16-172 micromol/L were obtained. BSA, a model protein, was submitted to different hydrolysis procedures (classical acid and basic, and catalyzed by the H+ form of a cation exchanger resin) and its amino acid profiles determined. In general, the resin-mediated hydrolysis yields were overall similar or better than those obtained by classical acid or basic hydrolysis. The resulting experimental-to-theoretical BSA concentration ratios served as correction factors for the quantitation of amino acids in Brazil nut resin generated hydrolysates.