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Natural extracts tested for potential effects in human health are susceptible to contamination, particularly when samples are often obtained from outdoor environments. Deer velvet antler (DVA) extracts have broad anticancer effects. As sterile samples are required for effective experimentation in cell cultures, we evaluated the most common sterilisation methods to get rid of microbial contamination. We also investigated whether the sterilisation method affected the anti-cancer activity of the DVA extract on human tumour cells. Two antler sections (tip and base) were subjected to water-based extraction. This study compares lyophilised and non-lyophilised DVA extracts. Subsequently, DMEM and LB culture media containing DVA extract were assessed for contamination. The amount of protein was quantified by BCA and visualised by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. To analyse the anticancer effect, a cell viability assay was performed on colorectal cancer cell lines. Finally, tumour biomarkers were evaluated by flow cytometry in colorectal cancer cells. Filtration was the sterilisation method that removed the highest microbial load. It reduced cell viability at a concentration of 1 mg/mL of total protein by up to 37% ± 10% (DVA-T) and by up to 69% ± 8% (DVA-B). Furthermore, the protein expression levels of SW480 colorectal cancer cells exhibited a significant increase in response to lyophilised DVA extracts in comparison to non-lyophilised extracts. The data obtained from this study indicate that the selected sterilization approaches allow preservation of protein integrity and in vitro bioactivity of DVA extracts, supporting their standardized preparation for further biological evaluation.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) precursors are a class of compounds that are commonly released into the environment through aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) and are known to decompose into PFOA. PFOA is one of the most used per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a class of highly persistent synthetic chemicals. Exposure to PFOA through environmental contamination has been linked to a variety of health concerns, and precursors from AFFFs are sources of PFOA contamination. Although PFOA precursors are often not considered, studies have demonstrated that they contribute to the overall levels of PFOA contamination, meaning that the ability to detect them is important for removing PFOA from the environment. However, the detection of PFOA precursors is limited to mass spectrometry methods, which are expensive and time-consuming. While higher-throughput methods have been developed for PFOA, no high-throughput sensing platforms have been reported for PFOA precursors. To address this problem, we developed a fluorescent sensor platform for detection and differentiation of three specific PFOA precursors, both from each other and from PFOA itself. We demonstrate that dynamic combinatorial libraries (DCLs) made up of dithiol monomers and templated with a solvatochromic fluorophore can be used to form a sensor array that achieves this detection and differentiation at low nanomolar, environmentally relevant concentrations. We can discriminate individual PFOA precursors from each other and perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids of varying chain lengths, mixtures of varying ratios of the precursor to PFOA, and use our system in complex samples extracted from soil spiked with the precursors. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a fluorescence-based method for the detection and differentiation of PFOA precursors.

This study investigates the occurrence and transfer of potentially toxic metals in roadside and agricultural soils, Pennisetum glaucum fodder, and cow milk across areas with varying traffic density in Kallar Kahar, Pakistan. Samples were digested using a wet acid digestion method and analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) under strict quality control protocols. The analyzed milk samples exhibited a broad range of metal concentrations, with Zn ranging from 1.99 to 3.16 mg/L, Fe from 0.16 to 0.32 mg/L, Mn from 0.02 to 0.28 mg/L, Cu from 0.001 to 0.008 mg/L, Pb from 0.001 to 0.009 mg/L, Cd from 0.0001 to 0.009 mg/L, Co from 0.0002 to 0.008 mg/L, and Mo from 0.001 to 0.004 mg/L. Contamination Factor (CF), Bioconcentration Factor (BCF), Daily Intake of Metal (DIM), and Health Risk Index (HRI) computations suggested that all values are below 1, indicating low levels of contamination and no immediate health risk under the studied conditions. However, values approaching threshold limits (e.g., Cd in milk and Mo in soil) suggest the need for cautious interpretation and long-term monitoring. Comparative analysis with international guidelines confirmed that metal levels in the study area are within safe limits. These findings highlight the suitability of the local environment for fodder production and dairy farming while emphasizing the importance of continuous monitoring to mitigate potential long-term risks.

Stormwater runoff is a significant contributor of phosphorus (P) loading to waterbodies around the world. Green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) that uses filtration media, such as bioretention, can effectively retain suspended solids and associated particulate P, but is commonly less effective for soluble P retention. The addition of aluminum-based drinking water treatment residuals (DWTRs) may increase P-sorbing capacity of GSI media, though guidance is needed for material selection and to reduce risk of potential contamination. This study examined the P removal capacities of DWTRs (n=11) from drinking water treatment plants in the New England region (northeastern USA). DWTRs were compared for P-sorption potential using batch isotherm and column experiments and characterized for several material properties as well as arsenic leaching and per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) content. Results indicate that P retention capacity of DWTRs is generally high (>1,000 mg P kg-1) but varies by approximately one order of magnitude. Lower DWTR bulk density and greater oxalate-extractable Al + Fe were correlated with greater P retention in column experiments. Our findings also indicate that the potential for significant arsenic leaching is low. PFAS were detected in 36% of DWTRs, often at low levels near the method detection limit, with three DWTRs having higher levels of certain PFAS. The addition of DWTRs to GSI is promising for enhanced soluble P removal on a decadal scale (10-90 years), but additional research on As, PFAS, and other contaminants should be pursued prior to use, especially in areas with known or suspected source water contamination. Achieving effective long-term P removal requires selecting DWTRs with favorable material properties (e.g., drier, lower bulk density, greater oxalate-extractable Al + Fe), and mixture with sand at up to 10% DWTR by volume and potentially higher if proven to not impede hydraulic conductivity. Field monitoring of DWTR-enhanced infrastructure at multiple time points postinstallation (e.g., years 1, 5, 10, 20, and 30) is needed to confirm P removal longevity over expected infrastructure lifespans.

Fresh water aquifers adjoining the geothermal resources are often vulnerable to trace metal contamination and associated risks to human health. Realistic assessment of health hazard as well as source apportionment play a vital role in designing suitable remedial actions, which can be better achieved through application of probabilistic methods using Monte Carlo Simulations (MCS) and multivariate based Absolute Principal Component Score-Multiple Linear Regression (APCS-MLR) methods. In this study, a comprehensive analysis of groundwater quality was performed using multiple pollution indices (HPI, HEI, Cd, IWPI), MCS and APCS-MLR methods. Chemical results indicate that TDS, F- and NO3- showed exceedances in 19%, 38% and 23% of the samples respectively while trace metals (Fe, Mn, Pb, and As) showed higher exceedances compared to WHO limits. Pollution indices suggest that 73% of the samples fall under low contamination and the rest (27%) in high risk category. MCS infers both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks to different age groups mainly due to arsenic and lead. Sensitivity analysis indicates body weight, ingestion rate as most influential followed by arsenic concentration. High geochemical mobility is noticed for Zn and Co while Al and Ni are largely immobile. Both relative mobility index and APCS-MLR model output point to rock weathering and geothermal sources as the key contributors accounting for 19.8% of the trace metal load in this region. This integrative approach underscores the need for regular monitoring and implementation of policies for safeguarding public health in this region.

Microplastics are found worldwide and are ingested by a wide range of organisms, yet the drivers of toxicity of these common environmental contaminants are still not fully understood. To better understand the contribution of plastic additives in the toxicity of microplastics to organisms, yellow perch (Perca flavescens) were exposed for 9 weeks to additive-free or additive-containing microplastics using in-lake pelagic mesocosms. Microplastics were fragments (37 to 1408 µm) of polymers commonly used in consumer plastics (linear low density polyethylene, polystyrene and polyethylene terephthalate). One objective of this work was to understand the contribution of additives to the overall toxicity of microplastics on yellow perch using targeted gene expression analysis via qPCR. After 9 weeks of exposure, fish were sampled and whole fish were assessed for selected metal additives (aluminum (Al), titanium (Ti), and bismuth (Bi)), and liver and gonads were assessed for gene expression analysis. No significant differences of metal contamination in fish tissue exposed to microplastics with additives was detected in comparison with fish exposed to plastic without additives or the control. While only limited effects on gene expression were observed, our work revealed that the genes hsp90aa and mgst1 in livers and mhc-I in gonads were differentially expressed when fish were exposed to microplastics with or without additives in comparison with the control fish. This finding indicated cellular stress and detoxification responses to microplastic exposure. Overall, there was no clear pattern demonstrating that toxic effects on fish were driven by either the physical or chemical aspects of the microplastics. Future work should measure the accumulation of the organic additives and assess the health of organs using histopathology.

Access to safe drinking water remains a critical public health challenge in many parts of rural India. People's perceptions of water quality, often based on sensory cues, may not align with laboratory evidence, leading to gaps in protective behaviour. This study examines the divergence between perceived and measured water quality in a southern district of West Bengal. A mixed-method study was conducted in four villages of North 24 Parganas. The villages were selected based on computed Water Quality Index based on government data, and the study followed a comparative cross-sectional design. Quantitative data were collected from 521 individuals across 120 households via a semi-structured questionnaire on background characteristics, water sources, water related perceptions treatment practices, and reported health outcomes. Household water samples were tested in a science laboratory to measure physicochemical and microbial parameters. Quantitative analysis included univariate and bivariate statistics and logistic regression, while 16 in-depth interviews explored water related perceptions, health experiences, and willingness to pay for safe water. Laboratory analysis showed that 64% of the households consumed poor-quality drinking water, with fluoride (76%) and arsenic (65%) exceeding permissible limits. A clear perception-measured gap was observed, confirmed by McNemar's test (&#x3c7;&#xb2; = 12.25, p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001). Misperception was higher among households with limited awareness of contamination, lack of treatment practices, and greater distance from water sources. Health risks were diverse, including self-reported gastrointestinal illnesses and respiratory symptoms. While many households expressed willingness to pay USD 0.16 to USD 3.20 per month for safe drinking water, affordability remained a barrier for many households. There is an urgent need for context-specific risk communication, continuous water quality monitoring and displaying such levels, and providing affordable and safe water delivery systems in rural West Bengal.

Bacteriophages in natural environments play a critical role in microbial ecology by regulating bacterial populations, mediating nutrient cycling, and facilitating horizontal gene transfer. Aquaculture operations, particularly inland fish farms, are major sources of anthropogenic influence on freshwater ecosystems. Here, we present three viral metagenomic datasets derived from freshwater samples collected at an inland aquaculture effluent site and adjacent upstream and downstream locations along the Sung-am River in Jincheon County, South Korea. The datasets were generated using the Illumina HiSeq X sequencing platform, yielding approximately 10.0-11.2 Gbp per sample. Quality assessments confirmed minimal bacterial contamination, with negligible proportions of rRNA and bacterial marker genes. Assembly using metaSPAdes and MEGAHIT, application of Phables to resolve high-quality phage genomes (viral metagenome-assembled genomes; vMAGs), viral identification with VirSorter2, and clustering using Vclust, resulted in 2,837-3,156 virus operational taxonomic units (vOTUs; &#x2265;10&#x2009;kb) per sample. Each vOTU sequence is analyzed for taxonomic assignment and putative host prediction. These datasets provide a valuable resource for further studies on viral diversity and microbial ecology in freshwater ecosystems affected by aquaculture.

Fascioliasis, caused by Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica, is a global veterinary problem in livestock and an emerging zoonotic disease in various countries. Here we present prevalence estimates of Fasciola spp. in all host and environmental compartments involved in the life cycle and identified risk factors associated with Fasciola transmission in a rural community in north-central Vietnam. We conducted a cross-sectional survey in a community in Nghe An province where fascioliasis is reported to be endemic and inhabitants commonly consume raw vegetables. Applying a simple random and cluster sampling approach, we collected 1137 stool and 1390 blood samples from 1396 human participants. From 664 buffaloes and cattle, we collected 656 fecal and 534 blood samples. We also collected 340 lymnaeid snails and 233 water plant samples. Human and livestock fecal samples were examined by copro-microscopy, while blood samples were screened by ELISA to detect Fasciola serum antibodies. We examined infections in snails using PCR and contamination of water plants deploying an in-house technique. Descriptive analysis and logistic regression models were applied to estimate the prevalence of and risk factors for Fasciola infections. While the prevalence of Fasciola infections was very low in humans (0% by copro-microscopy; 0.07% by ELISA), it was high in livestock (51.5% by copro-microscopy; 54.1% by ELISA). In the multivariable analysis, age was the only factor associated with Fasciola infections in livestock. Fasciola could not be detected in any of the sampled water plants or lymnaeid snails. This study indicated a high prevalence of Fasciola infections in livestock and a very low prevalence in humans in a rural community in north-central Vietnam. It is recommended to implement a control program to reduce the infection rate in buffaloes and cattle. Furthermore, health education activities for livestock owners should be carried out in Fasciola endemic areas.

This work presents the development and validation of a modular and programmable breathing phantom station designed for accelerated degradation testing of industrial respirator filters. The system replicates human respiratory patterns using a mechanical ventilator and a custom-built humidification unit, enabling controlled exposure of filters to respirable dust particles (&#x2264;10&#xa0;&#xb5;m) within a sealed contamination chamber. Filter saturation is assessed through pre- and post-exposure weight measurements, providing a direct and quantifiable evaluation method. Experimental validation was conducted through an accelerated degradation test using two filter samples to assess reproducibility. The experiment used a particulate concentration of 104&#xa0;mg/m3, corresponding to 10.4 times the OSHA permissible exposure limit, allowing accelerated testing under physiologically realistic breathing conditions. Over a one-week exposure period, P100 filters exhibited a progressive mass increase of approximately 1.3&#xa0;g from an initial weight of 13&#xa0;g, reaching a clear gravimetric saturation plateau. Results demonstrated strong reproducibility across different respiratory profiles and alignment with manufacturer-defined saturation limits. The platform provides a scalable and cost-effective tool for respiratory filter testing, with potential adaptability to various respirator designs and materials, filter types and airborne contaminants. Full hardware documentation, including schematics, the bill of materials, and the control procedure, is made available to support replication and further innovation within research and occupational health and safety.

Water samples from seven Matagorda Bay locations were collected in spring, summer, and fall to assess micro- and nano-plastics contamination. Samples were oxidatively digested (30% H2O2), filtered, dried, and analyzed by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy FT-IR ATR, Raman spectroscopy, Differential Scanning Calorimetry DSC, and Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy SEM-EDS. The identification of micro- and nano-plastics in estuarine waters is complicated by high salinity and inorganic matrices that can obscure or mask polymeric signals. To address this challenge, an integrated analytical approach was employed, combining vibrational spectroscopy, thermal analysis, and electron microscopy to compensate for the limitations of individual techniques. While surface-sensitive and element-specific methods were influenced by salt encapsulation, differential scanning calorimetry provided complementary bulk thermal evidence of polymeric materials embedded within the inorganic matrix. The spectra consistently showed peaks at &#x223c;3300, 1630, and 1100&#x2009;cm-1, indicating amine and hydrocarbon groups associated with synthetic polymers. The thermograms of DSC for fall and summer revealed three melting transitions (&#x223c;105-110&#x2009;&#xb0;C, &#x223c;150&#x2009;&#xb0;C, &#x223c;220&#x2009;&#xb0;C), consistent with polyethylene PE, polypropylene PP, polyvinyl chloride PVC, and high-melting polyamides PA or polystyrene PS. By contrast, spring samples showed only two transitions (&#x223c;85-95&#x2009;&#xb0;C, 140-150&#x2009;&#xb0;C), suggesting absence of some micro/nano-plastic materials. The outcomes of SEM-EDS demonstrated that the dried residues were dominated by inorganic salts (sodium Na, magnesium Mg, calcium Ca, sulfur S, chlorine Cl) with little detectable carbon, implying micro- and nano-plastic particles were embedded in a salt matrix. Overall, the data suggests the presence of common plastics (PE, PP, PVC, PA) in Matagorda Bay waters, with possible seasonal variation. The prevalent salt background highlights analytical challenges in detecting plastics in estuarine samples. Combining DSC technique alongside SEM-EDS and FT-IR show micro/nano-plastic particles encapsulation within inorganic salt. These findings underscore the plastic pollution in this coastal system and the need for rigorous monitoring and improved isolation of microplastics from saline matrices.

Potentially toxic trace elements (PTTEs) pose a risk to living organisms. We used honey bees (Apis mellifera) to explore differences in PTTE contamination levels between two study sites. Two apiaries with five bee colonies each were studied: The experimental apiary was located at a former waste deposit site (Witzwil; Switzerland), and the control apiary was 4.5&#x2009;km away in the neighbouring area (Bellechasse; Switzerland). Pollen was collected from colonies from May to August 2022 and 2023, and we developed an analytical method to assess 22 PTTEs. We quantified 19 PTTEs in at least one of the pollen samples (n = 80), with maximal levels recorded for Mn (298.8&#x2009;mg/kg), B (95.1&#x2009;mg/kg), Zn (63.4&#x2009;mg/kg), Cu (19.2&#x2009;mg/kg), Rb (17.7&#x2009;mg/kg), Ba (11.1&#x2009;mg/kg), and Sr (3.2&#x2009;mg/kg). Most notably, site-specific and seasonal variations were observed. For example, in June, pollen at the Witzwil site had statistically significant higher average concentrations of PTTEs-Mn (204.6 &#xb1; 53.1&#x2009;mg/kg), Rb (13.9 &#xb1; 2.3&#x2009;mg/kg), Ba (6.7 &#xb1; 2.2&#x2009;mg/kg), and Ni (1.8 &#xb1; 0.4&#x2009;mg/kg)-than the Bellechasse apiary, with Mn (74.2 &#xb1; 67.1&#x2009;mg/kg), Rb (5.6 &#xb1; 2.0&#x2009;mg/kg), Ba (4.4 &#xb1; 2.5&#x2009;mg/kg), and Ni (1.1 &#xb1; 0.5&#x2009;mg/kg). By contrast, the levels of several PTTEs (e.g., Mn, Ba, and Ni) were similar in July and August in both apiaries. For maximal Cu, Cd, Cr levels in pollen, we expect no increased acute oral toxicity to adult honey bees above the expected mortality levels.

Methylmercury (MeHg) is a well-recognized toxicant, whereas microplastics (MP) are contaminants whose health effects continue to be explored. Evidence suggests that concomitant exposure to MeHg and polystyrene (PS) may enhance adverse outcomes in the gastrointestinal system. The aim of this study was to investigate the combined effects of MeHg and PS-MP on intestinal homeostasis, as well as systemic oxidative and inflammatory responses. A total of 64 rats with 30-days-old (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;16 per group) were exposed to environmentally relevant doses of 0.5&#x2009;mg/L MeHg and/or 0.2&#x2009;mg/L PS-MP of 5&#x2009;&#xb5;m during 8&#x2009;weeks. Co-exposure resulted in colon shortening, mucus depletion, and disruption of tight junction proteins, accompanied by macrophage infiltration and elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines. Structural and inflammatory changes were accompanied by gut dysbiosis, including altered microbial composition and reduced diversity indices. Biochemically, co-exposure amplified oxidative stress in the colon, with loss of free thiols and enhanced lipid peroxidation, while not markedly affecting glutathione-S-transferase activity. Systemically, combined treatment increased serum cytokines and induced genotoxicity. Although compensatory antioxidant responses were detected in blood, oxidative stress was evident in peripheral organs, particularly liver, kidneys, and heart. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that the intestine may be an early and sensitive target following co-exposure to MeHg and PS-MP, driving cytokine release into circulation and contributing to systemic injury. Our study provides novel in vivo evidence that combined PS-MP and MeHg exposure exacerbates some biological outcomes noted with individual contaminant exposure, indicating the importance of considering co-contamination scenarios in risk assessment of emerging pollutants.

Global ecosystems are rapidly changing under human pressures such as land-use change, degradation, and trace metal pollution. These conditions often favor invasive plants, yet the links between invasiveness and metal contamination remain insufficiently understood. This study aimed to compare the biogeochemical responses of a native species (Tanacetum vulgare) and an invasive species (Solidago gigantea). Specifically, their capacity for metal uptake and translocation was investigated to assess whether certain traits may facilitate the performance of invasive plants in contaminated sites. Concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Fe, and Mn were determined in soils and in the roots and aboveground organs of both species sampled in areas with and without industrial impact. The results showed that both species are capable of inhabiting anthropogenically altered and metal-contaminated sites. Importantly, they both exhibited reduced uptake of metals in polluted soils, indicating the utilization of a metal-excluder strategy. T. vulgare was more likely to restrict metal uptake at the root level, whereas S. gigantea appeared to limit metal translocation to aboveground parts. Moreover, S. gigantea contained significantly lower levels of Cd, Ni, and Pb in its organs than T. vulgare, suggesting greater efficiency in avoiding metal accumulation. These findings support the classification of both species as excluders and highlight the adaptive capacity of invasive species in disturbed environments.

Protein purification is required for many experimental assays in molecular biology. However, this is a laborious procedure that can be challenging and prone to several problems (degradation, aggregation, contamination etc.). These issues can jeopardize the quality of the samples and the reliability of the research tests. This article describes four protocols that can be used for the purification of human Staufen1 (and several mutants), an important protein capable of binding RNA and inducing a variety of phenomena crucial for cell biology, including Staufen-mediated mRNA decay (SMD). SMD dysregulation is reported to be involved in tumorigenesis, adipogenesis, neurodegeneration, and cell cycle regulation. The data presented here show that EDTA reduces protein degradation. These protocols can minimize Staufen degradation and aggregation; therefore, they have proven to be efficient and reliable. This article also provides a table of potential problems and their corresponding solutions. Moreover, this work shows that the removal of a Staufen domain (Staufen-Swapping Motif, SSM) highly increases the degradation of this protein. This suggests that SSM plays a role in Staufen integrity. Fast, reliable purification protocols, ideal for Staufen and other water-soluble proteins Staufen purification troubleshooting SSM deletion increases Staufen degradation.

Early immune responses to respiratory viruses in the upper airways, including recruitment of innate immune cells like monocytes and dendritic cells (DCs), dictate disease development. Still, unlike soluble biomarkers, comparative evaluations of upper respiratory sampling methods for immune cell analysis are limited. We longitudinally collected matched nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA), nostril swabs, nasal curettes, and blood from patients with influenza-like illness and controls. Among the methods tested, NPA yielded the highest numbers of viable immune cells, including monocytes and DCs, while causing similar sampling discomfort and blood contamination, making it superior for longitudinal collection of immune cells from the upper airways.

Accurate regional mapping of soil heavy metals is increasingly supported by multi-source environmental covariates, yet predictive performance is often limited by sparse field sampling that cannot capture regional heterogeneity. We developed DLTL, a novel deep learning framework that integrates kriging-based virtual sample augmentation with transfer learning to improve mapping under limited observations. For six metals (Zn, Cu, Cr, Cd, Pb, and As) in the Yangtze River Delta, China, DLTL outperformed benchmark models, improving R2 by 17.36-42.99% over an augmented deep learning baseline, 24.00-95.34% over ordinary kriging (OK), and 34.50-133.93% over random forest (RF). Optimal performance was achieved with 6-km virtual sampling, full-network fine-tuning, and terminal-layer replacement. The shapley additive explanations (SHAP) analysis revealed that soil properties (37-42%) and climate (23-32%) dominated model explanations, with element-specific contributions from anthropogenic indicators and PM2.5. The resulting 1-km resolution maps better delineated localized hotspots, identifying a larger fraction of high ecological-risk areas (3.20% vs 0.07% for RF) while reducing false-positive exceedance of childhood carcinogenic risk (0.09% vs 1.50% for OK). DLTL provides a scalable solution for regional contamination mapping and risk screening in covariate-rich but sample-poor settings.