Trace elements in edible tissues of the veined rapa whelk (Rapana venosa) in the southern Black Sea, Türkiye: sex, monthly, and age variations and human consumer health risk.

Coastal areas face significant pressures from a variety of human activities, owing primarily to population growth in these areas. Human activities produce a variety of contaminants, including trace metals, which are common forms of contamination that enter marine ecosystems. This study was carried out to provide information on trace element concentrations (Hg, Pb, Cd, Cu, and Zn) in the muscles of Rapana venosa (Valenciennes, 1846) available on Sinop coasts of the southern Black Sea and to evaluate the possible risk associated with their consumption. The minimum and maximum values (mg/kg wet weight) of trace elements in the edible tissue of R. venosa decreased in the following order: Zn (1.75-8.53) > Cu (0.41-4.6) > Cd (0.021-0.255) > Pb (0.013-0.037) > Hg (0.010-0.035). The measured levels of all the trace elements in the present study were lower than the limits permitted by the European Community Regulation (EU), Turkish guideline, and the UK Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF). The hazard index value of Hg, Cd, Cu, and Zn for the veined rapa whelk is lower than standard 1, demonstrating that ingestion of this mollusk from the southern Black Sea does not result in overexposure to these contaminants. The risk index value for human cancer risk of Pb for all seasons was found to be insignificant. When comparing the levels of elements in males and females, significant differences were found in some months for all the metals. In general, the trace elements were detected in higher concentrations in females than in males. Both females and males have accumulated less trace elements with increasing age. This study was the first to show the distribution of trace elements as a function of age in R. venosa.

Metals in Wild and Cultured Dicentrarchus labrax (Linnaeus, 1758) from Fish Markets in Sinop: Consumer's Health Risk Assessment.

Concentrations of Cd, Hg, Pb, As, Al, Cu, Fe, and Zn were determined in the muscles of wild and farmed European seabass in Sinop markets between September and December in 2020, using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry after microwave digestion. In the study, iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), aluminum (Al), and copper (Cu) were found higher than the other metals both in wild and cultured Dicentrarchus labrax. These are essential elements, but excess amounts act as a poison. Arsenic (As) concentration was higher than cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb) both in wild and cultured D. labrax. The estimated maximum total dietary intakes of these eight metals from both wild and farmed European seabass were below the maximum acceptable daily intake values set by the Turkish Food Codex and European Union Regulation. Results showed that according to metal amounts, consumption of D. labrax had no threat to consumers' health. The target hazard quotient (THQ) revealed that harmful health impacts may not occur. Furthermore, risk index (RI) indicated that there may have a lower risk of developing cancer in the future who have been exposed to Pb and As through fish intake. Although the fish are not overly contaminated, the metal level is rising. Increased amounts of heavy metals in fish in different areas could be due to an increase in farm inflow water, domestic sewage, and a number of other anthropogenic sources, all of which should be looked into further. Precautions should be made to safeguard this fish from metal contamination and to reduce the risk to human health.

Toxic Metals in Seven Commercial Fish from the Southern Black Sea: Toxic Risk Assessment of Eleven-Year Data Between 2009 and 2019.

Concentrations of toxic metals (Cd, Hg and Pb) in the edible tissues of seven commercial fish species (Mullus barbatus, Merlangius merlangus, Scophthalmus maximus, Mugil cephalus, Engraulis encrasicolus, Trachurus mediterraneus and Sarda sarda) collected from Sinop coasts of the southern Black Sea were detected in 11 years. In several fish samples, the concentrations of elements (Cd, Hg and Pb) were not detected or were below the detection level. The present study showed that Pb was the most and Cd was the least accumulated metal in the studied fish species. The concentrations of those metals are below the international organizations' recommended limit. It was shown that the estimated metal dose values for daily average consumption and hazarded quotients (HI) in fish samples are below safety levels for human consumption (HI˂1). From the human health point of view, this study showed that there was no possible health risk to people due to intake of any studied species under the current consumption rate in the country for 11 years. This study could be useful as a baseline data for metals exposure.

Toward pH-responsive coating materials--high-throughput study of (meth)acrylic copolymers.

The release behavior of a model compound (ß-naphthol orange) encapsulated in (meth)acrylate-based statistical copolymers under different environmental conditions was investigated. From monomers of varying polarity (methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, tert-butyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate, and benzyl methacrylate) in combination with methacrylic acid, five polymer series were synthesized by free radical polymerization. The pH-dependent release kinetics were investigated via UV-vis spectroscopy at pH 1.2 and 6.8, simulating physiological conditions in the stomach and intestines. Furthermore, the influence of different ethanol contents (0 and 40 vol %) in the acidic medium was investigated. The whole approach was designed to meet the requirements of a high-throughput experimentation workflow.

Water soluble poly(1-vinyl-1,2,4-triazole) as novel dielectric layer for organic field effect transistors.

Water soluble poly(1-vinyl-1,2,4-triazole) (PVT) as a novel dielectric layer for organic field effect transistor is studied. Dielectric spectroscopy characterization reveals it has low leakage current and rather high breakdown voltage. Both n-channel and p-channel organic field effect transistors are fabricated using pentacene and fullerene as active layers. Both devices show device performances with lack of hysteresis, very low threshold voltages and high on/off ratios. Excellent film formation property is utilized to make AlO x and thin PVT bilayer in order to decrease the operating voltage of the devices. All solution processed ambipolar device is fabricated with simple spin coating steps using poly(2-methoxy-5-(2-ethyl-hexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene) (MEH-PPV) end capped with polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) as active layer. Our investigations show that PVT can be a very promising dielectric for organic field effect transistors.