ABSTRACT
Abundant disposable surgical masks (SMs) remain in the environment and continue to age under urban environmental stressors. This study aimed to investigate the aging characteristics of SMs and the effect of different aged layers of SMs on phenanthrene (PHE), tylosin (TYL), and sulfamethazine (SMT) under two different urban environmental stressors (UV and ozone). The results show that UV exposure causes more severe aging of the SM layers than ozone. The middle layer, made of melt-brown fabric, has displayed the highest degree of aging due to its smaller diameter and mechanical strength. The two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS) analysis reveals the different aging sequences of functional groups and three layers in aged SMs under the two urban environmental stressors. Whether the SMs are aged or not, the adsorptions of three organic pollutants on SMs are positively correlated with the octanol-water partition coefficient. Furthermore, except for the dominant hydrophobic interaction, aged SMs can promote the adsorption of three organic pollutants by accessory interactions (hydrogen bonding and partition), depending on their structures. These findings highlight the environmental effects of new microplastic (MP) sources and coexisting pollutants under the influence of COVID-19, which is helpful in accurately evaluating the biological toxicity of SMs. © 2022 Elsevier B.V.
ABSTRACT
The nursing work environment has changed during the Covid-19 pandemic. Its presence has impacted work stress among nurses in addition to other stressors including role ambiguity. Nurses with good stress coping can mitigate environmental stressors to minimize the work stress to the lowest level. This study intends to measure and analyze the direct effect of role ambiguity and Islamic coping on work stress. It also attempts to measure the indirect effect of role ambiguity on work stress through Islamic coping among nurses at the General Hospital dr. Zainoel Abidin (Rumah Sakit Umum dr. Zainoel Abidin - RSUDZA), Banda Aceh, Indonesia. A number of 206 nurses in inpatient rooms at the hospital were selected as the study's sample using a stratified random sampling method. The primary data were collected using the questionnaires and analyzed using a Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) approach. The study found that role ambiguity has positively influenced work stress, while Islamic coping has negatively impacted work stress. In addition, Islamic coping has mediated the effect of role ambiguity on work stress. These results have implications for reducing work stress of the nurses during the Covid-19 pandemic. The clarification of the roles and responsibilities and improvement of Islamic coping skills could mitigate the nurses' work stress during the Covid-19 pandemic. © 2022 IEEE.
ABSTRACT
The ongoing pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a substantial stressor that is greatly impacting environmental sustainability. Besides, the different pre-existing environmental stressors and coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19)-related stressors are further worsening the effects of the viral disease by inducing the generation of oxidative stress. The generated oxidative stress results in nucleic acid damage associated with viral mutations, that could potentially reduce the effectiveness of COVID-19 management, including the vaccine approach. The current review is aimed to overview the impact of the oxidative stress damage induced by various environmental stressors on COVID-19. The available data regarding the COVID-19-related stressors and the effects of oxidative stress damage induced by the chronic stress, exposure to free radicals, and malnutrition are also analyzed to showcase the promising options, which could be investigated further for sustainable control of the pandemic.