PM2.5-bound trace metals in an urban area of Northern Mexico during the COVID-19 pandemic: characterization, sources, and health risk.

Abstract: A field study was carried out in the Metropolitan Area of Monterrey (MAM), the second most populated city in Mexico, characterized by increasing urbanization, high traffic density, and intense industrial activity. These characteristics commonly present high concentrations of air pollutants leading to the degradation of air quality. PM2.5 was analyzed for heavy metals at two urban sites located within the MAM (Juarez and San Bernabe) in order to determine sources, health risk, morphology, and elemental content during the COVID-19 pandemic (autumn 2020 and spring 2021). Twenty-four-hour samples of PM2.5 were collected at each site during 30-day periods using high-volume equipment. Gravimetric concentrations and 11 metals were measured (Ca, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Ni, Cr, and Pb) by different analytical techniques (flame atomic absorption spectroscopy, graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy). Selected samples were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy-energy-disperse spectroscopy in order to characterize their morphology and elemental content. PM2.5 concentrations exceeded the Mexican standard and WHO guidelines in Juarez during spring 2021. Cu, Cd, and Co were highly enriched by anthropogenic sources, and Ni, K, Cr, and Pb had a moderate enrichment. Mg, Mn, and Ca were of crustal origin. Bivariate statistics and PCA confirmed that alkaline metals originated from crustal sources and that the main sources of trace metals included traffic emissions, resuspension from soil/road dust, steel industry, smelting, and non-exhaust emissions at both sites. Lifetime cancer risk coefficients did not exceed the permissible levels established by EPA and WHO, implying that local residents are not at risk of developing cancer. Non-carcinogenic risk coefficients revealed that there is a possible risk of suffering cardiovascular and respiratory diseases due to inhalation of cobalt at the study sites. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11869-023-01372-7.

Comparative Analysis of Serum Zinc, Copper and Magnesium Level and Their Relations in Association with Severity and Mortality in SARS-CoV-2 Patients.

The deficiencies of trace elements and infectious diseases often coexist and exhibit complex interactions. Several trace elements such as zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and magnesium (Mg) have immunomodulatory functions and thus influence the susceptibility to the course and outcome of a variety of viral infections. So, this present study was aimed to study relations of trace metals in association with severity and mortality in SARS-CoV-2 patients. A total of 150 individuals infected with COVID-19 and 50 healthy individuals were recruited. Cases were divided based on severity (mild, moderate and severe) and outcome (discharged or deceased). Serum Zn, Mg and Cu levels were analysed by direct colourimetric method. Both serum Cu and Zn levels were significantly decreased in cases when compared to those in controls (p < 0.005 and p < 0.0001). Serum magnesium levels although not significant were found to be slightly decreased in controls. On comparing the trace elements between the deceased and discharged cases, a significant difference was found between serum copper and zinc levels, but for magnesium, both groups have similar levels. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve results indicate that a serum Cu/Zn ratio along with the age of patient provides some reliable information on COVID-19 course and survival odds by yielding an AUC of 95.1% with a sensitivity of 93.8% and specificity of 89.8%. Therefore, we would like to emphasize that measuring the serum copper and zinc along with their ratio can be used as routine investigations for COVID-19 patients in proper identification and management of severe cases in upcoming new waves of COVID-19.

A review on the effect of micro- and nano-plastics pollution on the emergence of antimicrobial resistance

The recent upsurge in the studies on micro/nano plastics and antimicrobial resistance genes has proven their deleterious effects on the environmental and human health. Till-date, there is a scarcity of studies on the in-teractions of these two factors and their combined influence. The interaction of microplastics has led to the formation of new plastics namely plastiglomerates, pyroplastics. and anthropoquinas. It has long been ignored that the occurrence of microplastics has become a breeding ground for the emergence of antimicrobial resistance genes. Evidently microplastics are also associated with the occurrence of other pollutants such as polyaromatic hydrocarbons and pesticides. The increased use of antibiotics (after Covid breakout) has further elevated the detrimental effects on human health. Therefore, this study highlights the relation of microplastics with antibiotic resistance generation. The factors such as uncontrolled use of antibiotics and negligent plastic consumption has been evaluated. Furthermore, the future research prospective was provided that can be helpful in correctly identifying the seriousness of the environmental occurrence of these pollutants.

Environmental impacts of covid-19 pandemic: Release of microplastics, organic contaminants and trace metals from face masks under ambient environmental conditions.

The covid-19 pandemic era was characterized by heavy usage and disposal of medical face masks, now estimated at over 1.24 trillion. Few studies had attempted to demonstrate the release of microplastics from face masks using simulated conditions and application of mechanical forces, far different from the effects experienced by face masks dumped in the open environment, in landfills and dumpsites. In the current study, we monitored the release of microplastics, organic contaminants and toxic metals from medical face masks degraded under normal outdoor environmental conditions, over a period of 60 weeks. We showed that face mask's decomposition proceeded via sunlight (UV) - initiated oxidative degradation, leading to the replacement of methylene (CH2-) and alkyl (CH3-) groups in face mask's polypropylene backbone with hydroxyl and ketonic functional groups. Organic compounds released from decaying face masks into the surrounding soil included alkanes, alkenes, carboxylic acids/diesters and phthalate esters. Mean maximum concentration of phthalates in the soil ranged from 3.14 mg/kg (diethyl phthalate) to 11.68 mg/kg di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate. Heavy metals, including Cu, Pb, Cd, As, Sn and Fe, were released into the soil, leading to contamination factors of 3.11, 2.84, 2.42, 2.26, 1.80 and 0.99, respectively. Together, the metals gave a pollution load index (PLI) of 2.102, indicating that they constitute moderate pollution of the soil surrounding the heap of face masks. This study provides a realistic insight into the fate and impacts of the enormous amounts of face masks, disposed or abandoned in soil environments during the covid-19 pandemic.

Association of iron-related biomarkers with severity and mortality in COVID-19 patients.

BACKGROUND: Nutritional deficiency is associated with weaken immune system and increased susceptibility to infection. Among other nutrients, several trace elements have been shown to regulate immune responses. Iron is one of the most abundant trace elements present in our body, which is required in various biological processes. Iron has an immunomodulatory function and thus influence the susceptibility to the course and outcome of a variety of viral infections. So, this present study was aimed to study relations of different iron-related biomarkers in association to severity and mortality in SARS-CoV-2 patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 150 individuals infected with COVID-19 and 50 healthy individuals were recruited. Cases were divided based on severity (mild, moderate, and severe) and outcome (discharged or deceased). Serum iron, TIBC, ferritin, transferrin, transferrin saturation levels were analyzed by the direct colourimetric method. RESULTS: In cases the median levels of serum iron, TIBC, transferrin, transferrin saturation and ferritin are 29 µg/dL, 132.53 µg/dL, 106.3 mg/dL, 17.74 % and 702.9 ng/dL respectively. Similarly, in controls the median levels of serum iron, TIBC, transferrin, transferrin saturation and ferritin are 53 µg/dL, 391.88 µg/dL, 313.51 mg/dL, 12.81 % and 13.52 ng/dL respectively. On comparing the cases with the controls, a significant lower level of iron, TIBC, and transferrin were found in the cases along with the significant higher levels of ferritin and transferrin saturation. On comparing the Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of Iron, Ferritin, Transferrin, Transferrin sat % and TIBC in relation to survival in COVID-19 patients it was found that iron, followed by transferrin and ferritin has the highest area under the curve (AUC) with 74 %, 63 % and 61 % respectively. Further, in pairwise analysis of ROC curve, a significant difference was found between the Iron-transferrin (p < 0.01), iron-TIBC (p < 0.001) and transferrin-ferritin (P < 0.01). The multiple regression model based on Iron and transferrin outperformed any other combination of variables via stepwise AIC selection with an AUC of 98.2 %. The cutoff point according to Youden's J index is characterized with a sensitivity of 98 % and a specificity of 96.8 %, indicating that iron along with transferrin can be a useful marker that may contribute to a better assessment of survival chances in COVID-19. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated a significantly decreased levels of iron, TIBC, & transferrin and a significantly increased levels of ferritin and transferrin saturation in COVID-19 patients when compared with controls. Further, Iron and transferrin were observed to be a good predictor of mortality in patients with COVID-19. From the above analysis we confirm that iron-related biomarkers play an important role in the development of oxidative stress and further lead to activation of the cytokine storm. So, continuous monitoring of these parameters could be helpful in the early detection of individuals developing the severe disease and can be used to decrease mortality in upcoming new waves of COVID-19.

Validating the preeminence of biochemical properties of camel over cow and goat milk during the Covid-19.

In the light of the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak, and the need-of-the-hour to boost immunity to residents, especially those residing in an arid environment, a comparative study was made on the physical and biochemical properties of dairy milk. This novel study in Kuwait revealed the lesser consumed pseudoruminant camel milk as a better potential source of dietary inclusion and an immune booster over true ruminants-cow's and goat's milk. Analysis using a wide array of instruments determining the physical characteristics in camel's milk (pH, conductivity, specific gravity, moisture, and total solids), biochemical constituents (crude protein (CP), nonprotein (NP), and fat), and inorganic constituents (K-919; Ca-907; Zn-4.2 mg/100 mg) revealed conducive properties that validate immunity to consumers when compared to the regularly used cow's milk (K-841; Ca-776; Zn-2.43 mg/100 mg) and goat's milk (K-914; Ca-849; Zn-2.45 mg/100 mg). Log-transformed results revealed high vitamin C in camel's milk (0.42 mg/100 g), indicating high antioxidant properties compared to those of goat's milk (0.12 mg/100 g) and cow's milk (0.04 mg/100 g). Statistical tests by analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant differences and the correlation coefficient between the three milk samples validating the multiple reasons to use camel's milk over the cow's and goat's milk. Furthermore, this study recommends the consumption of camel's milk due to its low concentrations of contaminants as well, their status below permissible limits in Kuwait, set by global standards over the other sampled milks.

Arsenic in Groundwater Sources from Selected Communities Surrounding Taal Volcano, Philippines: An Exploratory Study

Arsenic (As) is a highly toxic, carcinogenic trace metal that can potentially contaminate groundwater sources in volcanic regions. This study provides the first comparative documentation of As concentrations in groundwater in a volcano-sedimentary region in the Philippines. Matched, repeated As measurements and physico-chemical analyses were performed in 26 individual wells from 11 municipalities and city in Batangas province from July 2020 to November 2021. Using the electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometric method, analysis of the wells revealed that in 2020, 23 out of 26 (88.46%) had As levels above the WHO limit of >10 ppb while 20 out of 26 wells (76.92%) had persistently high As levels a year later. Using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test, levels of As were found to be statistically elevated compared to the national safe limit of 10 pbb in the 26 matched sampling sites in both 2020 (p-value < 0.001) and 2021 (p-value = 0.013). Additionally, a two-paired Wilcoxon signed-rank test revealed that As levels were statistically higher in 2020 than in 2021 (p-value = 0.003), suggesting that As levels may be higher in years when there is more volcanic activity;however, this remains to be further elucidated with suitable longitudinal data, as this study is still in its preliminary stages. The data was also analyzed using a bivariable regression, which showed no evidence of a significant relationship between As levels and distance from the danger zone (Taal volcano crater);however, results showed an inverse but statistically insignificant relationship between As levels and elevation. Due to the toxic profile and persistence of As in groundwater in Batangas Province, continuous groundwater As monitoring, timely public health risk communication, and the provision of alternative water sources to affected populations are recommended.

Fingerprint characteristics and health risks of trace metals in market fish species from a large aquaculture producer in a typical arid province in Northwestern China.

Concentrations of nine metals were measured in eight common cultured fish species obtained from forty-three aquatic product markets across three cities in Xinjiang province, to establish fingerprint characteristics and assess potential human health risks due to the consumption of fish. Metal levels ( µ g/kg, wet weight) in fish muscles were: 1204.88-5113.19 Al, 2.09-12.44 V, 6.10-31.86 Cr, 2368.80-8949.52 Fe, 2.01-10.26 Co, 4082.72-12785.68 Zn, 174.89-763.83 Cu, 0.33-2.24 Cd, and 5.74-9.90 Pb. Fingerprint analysis revealed that the studied fish species from the three cities exhibited a similar pattern of distribution. From the viewpoint of human health, the assessment of non-carcinogenic risk indicated no significant adverse health effects due to consumption of the assessed fish species.