Differences in lung function between major race/ethnicity groups following hospitalization with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Ethnic minorities have higher rates of infection, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19 compared to White Americans. RESEARCH QUESTION: Is race/ethnicity an independent predictor of lung dysfunction following hospitalization with COVID-19? STUDY DESIGN: and Methods: Patients hospitalized at the University of Virginia Medical Center with COVID-19 underwent a questionnaire within 30 days following discharge. Those who had persistent respiratory symptoms were invited to complete spirometry, lung volumes, and diffusion capacity of carbon monoxide. 128 completed pulmonary function testing at 6 months. RESULTS: Impairments in lung function were present in spirometry, lung volumes, and diffusion capacity of carbon monoxide at 6 months. The most prevalent impairments were noted in FVC (24.4%), FEV1 (20.5%), TLC (23.3%), and DLCO (20.8%). When compared between race/ethnicity groups three lung function parameters demonstrated statistically significant difference, including FEV1/FVC (p = 0.021), RV/TLC (p = 0.006) and DLCO % predicted (p = 0.002). The average difference between Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black patients with respect to DLCO % predicted was 13.09 (p = 0.01) and the average difference between non-Hispanic White and non-Hispanic Black patients was 9.46 (p = 0.04). Differences persisted when controlling for age, BMI, smoking status, history of chronic lung disease, ICU admission, treatment with corticosteroids, and socioeconomic status. INTERPRETATION: Long-term impairments in lung function following COVID-19 are common, occurring in roughly 22% of patients and across all three major domains of lung function. Non-Hispanic Black race/ethnicity was associated with a statistically significant lower DLCO % predicted when compared to non-Hispanic White and Hispanic patients.

Activated Carbon and Biochar Reduce Mercury Methylation Potentials in Aquatic Sediments.

Much of the toxic methylmercury (MeHg) that biomagnifies in the aquatic food chain and accumulates in fish and seafood is believed to originate from microbial methylation of inorganic Hg(+2) in anoxic sediments. We examined the effect amending wetland sediments with activated carbon and biochar on Hg methylation potentials using microcosms and Hg stable isotope tracers. The inorganic (200)Hg(+2) spike was methylated at ~0.37 %/day in the untreated sediment, but that rate decreased to <0.08 %/day for the amended sediments, with 80 % and 88 % reductions in methylation rates for activated carbon and biochar amendments, respectively. Demethylation rates were relatively unchanged. Our key finding is that amending contaminated sediment with activated carbon and biochar decreases bioavailable Hg, and thus may also decrease Hg transfer into food webs. However, further research is needed to evaluate exactly how the sorbents impact Hg methylation rates and for related field studies.