E-scooters have become a popular, low-cost mode of urban transport worldwide, with rideshare programmes increasing public access. However, safety concerns are growing, with many studies describing injury patterns and healthcare burden. This study evaluated the impact of the suspension of rideshare e-scooters on emergency department (ED) presentations and demographic data in Perth, Western Australia. A retrospective cohort study was conducted at the Royal Perth Hospital Emergency Department (ED). All e-scooter-related presentations were identified through triage records and reviewed via chart audit. Two 12-week observation windows were analysed. The first examined the rates of e-scooter injuries during the 12 weeks before and after 5 June 2024 to establish a baseline injury rate. The second assessed presentations during the 12 weeks before and after the suspension of rideshare e-scooters on 5 June 2025. Across both study windows, 272 e-scooter presentations occurred. In the 2024 window, there were a total of 128 presentations corresponding to 10.6 presentations per week. During 2025, there were 144 presentations, corresponding to 12 presentations per week. After the suspension of rideshare scooters in 2025, presentations decreased from 105 to 39 (17.5 to 6.5 presentations per day), with an incidence rate ratio of RR 2.69, 95% CI 1.86-3.89, p ≤ 0.001. The suspension of rideshare e-scooters was associated with a marked reduction in ED presentations. These findings suggest that local regulation can rapidly influence the e-scooter injury burden and highlight the need for ongoing surveillance to inform safe micro-mobility policy.
In United States v. Skrmetti, the U.S. Supreme Court considered the constitutionality of a Tennessee law prohibiting certain medical procedures for the treatment of minors with gender dysphoria. A majority of the justices agreed that the law failed to violate the U.S. Constitution's equal protection provision. Because the law failed to distinguish among patients on the basis of sex, they said, it required only a rational basis to survive constitutional scrutiny. A lack of solid evidence on appropriate treatment for transgender minors supplied this rational basis. The Skrmetti majority strained, however, to avoid acknowledging that Tennessee's law classifies people on the basis of sex.
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Brazil's Digital Child and Adolescent Act (2025) prohibits paid loot boxes in games accessible to minors under a public health and child-rights framework, regardless of whether they should be classified as gambling. The law focuses on psychological mechanisms underlying harm, including variable-ratio reinforcement and reward uncertainty, to which adolescents are developmentally vulnerable. It establishes administrative sanctions, including fines of up to 10% of the company's revenue and service suspension, and restricts personalized advertising and algorithmic systems targeting minors. As the first major market to adopt a preventive harm-reduction ban, Brazil creates measurable regulatory benchmarks and a natural experiment to assess whether legislative boundaries reduce harm, influence industry monetisation strategies, and inform proportionate digital governance internationally.
We re-analyze two research articles with results showing that Sweden's criminalization of purchasing sex triggered a large increase in rape. Our analysis documents discrepancies that produce unreliable results in five identification strategies in the first paper (Ciacci, 2024), and in all specifications indicating a large reform effect in the other (Ciacci, 2025). These discrepancies include estimating different statistical relationships, using different methods, or employing different variables than the paper describes. Correcting them by implementing the analysis described in the text yields no evidence that the Swedish reform increased rape.
Artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML) are revolutionising health care, enhancing diagnostics and treatment through AI-enabled medical devices. However, the effectiveness of AI or ML models is hindered by substantial biases, particularly against minority populations such as African and Afro-descendant people. In this Viewpoint, we discuss the colour-blind policy of France, which prohibits the collection of data on race and ethnicity, and so ignores racial distinctions and consequently does not address such biases inherent to AI models. France's historical stance on non-racial distinction, aimed at promoting equality, paradoxically conceals the racial disparities embedded in AI technologies. This paradox is particularly evident in health care as AI's capability to discern race from health data challenges the effectiveness of colour-blind policies. By examining the implications of France's colour-blind policy and the necessity of race-conscious strategies, we advocate for a fundamental shift towards incorporating ethnic and racial data in AI development. This shift will not only enhance the accuracy and fairness of AI applications in health care but also ensure that France can compete internationally in the AI-enabled medical device market while upholding ethical AI practices that prioritise transparency and equity. Urgent policy revisions are required to integrate race and ethnicity considerations across the entire lifecycle of AI, including training data used for AI models in health care, thereby improving health outcomes for all population groups, including marginalised communities.
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Crumb rubber, derived from recycled tyres, has been used as a sustainable, low-cost infill material. However, growing evidence suggests that tyre crumb rubber leachates can be highly toxic, underscoring the need for comprehensive risk assessments of different types of rubber and the development of safer alternatives. This study evaluated the acute toxicity of leachates from various infill materials, including black recycled tyre rubbers, coloured thermoplastic rubbers, and a mineral-based material ("Bioflex"), on key models of marine plankton. Specifically, we determined the effects of micronised crumb rubber leachates on the microalga Rhodomonas salina, embryos and nauplii of the copepod Acartia tonsa, and early developmental stages of the sea urchin Arbacia lixula. We also evaluated the toxicity of leachates extracted using an organic solvent compared to those obtained using filtered seawater, using R. salina as a model organism. Toxicity varied significantly among rubber types, with EC50 values ranging from 22.1mgL-1 to >1505mgL-1, depending on the organism, and biological endpoint. One of the tested tyre rubber crumbs consistently exhibited high toxicity across all test species, with EC50 values as low as 50mgL-1 for specific life stages. Among thermoplastic rubbers, green crumb rubber also showed high toxicity towards R. salina, with an EC50 of 25.7mgL-1. In contrast, the mineral-based material was only toxic to the early stages of A. lixula, exhibiting relatively low toxicity (EC50 = 2305mgL-1). In most cases, the toxicity of seawater-based leachates was comparable to that of solvent-based extracts, indicating that most toxic compounds affecting R. salina are water-soluble. Metal analysis revealed that the mineral-based material contained lower concentrations of toxic metals, such as zinc, and lower levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons than the other rubbers. This may partially explain its reduced toxicity to plankton. Our findings demonstrate that leachates from recycled crumb rubber and thermoplastic rubbers are toxic to marine plankton, although the effects are species-specific and dependent on the material composition. Our results also suggest that mineral-based infill materials (e.g., "Bioflex") are ecologically safer alternatives to rubbers. Overall, this study indicates that leachate pollution from recycled tyre rubber and thermoplastic rubber particles poses a potential risk to the pelagic food web, highlighting the importance of restricting or banning their use in areas near sensitive aquatic environments.
E-cigarette use has risen sharply among young never-smokers, largely driven by the availability of several thousand appealing flavours. This narrative review synthesises evidence on the health effects of vaping, flavour toxicology and attractiveness, designs and outcomes of flavour bans, and complementary measures. Peer-reviewed publications and institutional reports (up to January 2026) were retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and reference lists of included articles. Evidence from about 200 references was synthesised by a multidisciplinary working group. Although flavouring substances are generally considered safe for ingestion, their inhalation toxicity remains uncertain. In vitro and in vivo studies have reported oxidative stress, inflammation, cytotoxicity, impaired ciliary function, transcriptomic changes, genotoxicity, and DNA damage. These findings-along with the strong youth appeal of fruit/sweet flavours, the inconclusive effects of flavours on smoking cessation, and persisting uncertainties-support banning non-tobacco e-cigarette flavours under the precautionary principle. Flavour bans can reduce e-cigarette use and initiation, especially among young adults, although partial substitution towards combustible cigarettes has been reported in some U.S. states. Policy success requires effective enforcement, prevention of industry circumvention, curbing cross-border sales, and closing regulatory loopholes-ideally at the international level (e.g., EU-wide). E-cigarette flavours may increase vaping toxicity and strongly appeal to youth, justifying flavour bans to prioritise youth protection. To maximise effectiveness, accompanying measures and sustained investment in tobacco prevention, youth education, and accessible evidence-based smoking cessation support are essential.
In response to the sharp increase in vaping among children, adolescents, and young adults, the Vermont legislature passed 3 policies in 2019 to reduce access to and availability of tobacco products. The objective of this case study was to describe the content, context, actors, processes, and evaluation of the policies: increasing the purchase age to 21 years, establishing a wholesale tax on electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), and banning the mail delivery of all tobacco products. We used state-level surveillance data from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, the Young Adult Survey, and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to assess changes in access to and use of vaping products among children, adolescents, and young adults before and after policy implementation. We found decreases in perceived access to vaping products among middle and high school students. In 2019, 29% of middle school students and 73% of high school students reported that it was easy to access vaping products, which decreased in 2021 to 18% and 58%, respectively. Past-30-day use of vaping products decreased among both middle school and high school students from 2019 to 2021. In 2019, 8% of middle school students and 26% of high school students reported past-30-day use of vaping products, which decreased in 2021 to 5% and 16%, respectively. Vaping behavior among young adults increased in Vermont. In 2017, 6% of young adults reported current e-cigarette use, rising to 22% in 2022. Tobacco control strategies should continue to focus on evidence-based policies that curtail initiation, limit use, and expand treatment for nicotine and tobacco use among children, adolescents, and young adults.
After China implemented the policy of banning the application of antibiotics in feed and reducing the application of antibiotics in animal production, there has been an urgent need to develop new antibiotic alternatives. In this context, animal venom peptides are considered highly promising alternatives to antibiotics because they possess multifunctional properties and appear to employ the same membrane-targeting mechanism for both insecticidal and bactericidal activities. This study examines the antibacterial activity of U10-MYRTX-Mri1a, an insecticidal peptide derived from the venom of European red ants (Manica rubida), and assesses the functionality of its recombinant fusion protein produced in Pichia pastoris, thereby providing experimental support for the development of antibiotic alternatives. According to the concept of structural similarity-functional crossover, we evaluated the antibacterial activities of the insecticidal peptide U10-MYRTX-Mri1a derived from Myrmica rubra against Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923. U10-MYRTX-Mri1a was chemically synthesized. Its minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were 16 µmol/L for E. coli O157:H7 and 8 µmol/L for S. aureus ATCC 25923, and the minimum bactericidal concentrations for both strains were 16 µmol/L. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the peptide treatment caused collapse of the bacterial membrane structure and cell fragmentation. Meanwhile, the fusion peptide U10-MYRTX-Mri1a-GNA was expressed via the constitutive promoter glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAP) in Pichia pastoris X33. The fusion peptide inhibited E. coli O157:H7 and S. aureus ATCC 25923 by (89.37±2.22)% and (88.27±2.81)%, respectively. The findings indicate that the insecticidal peptide U10-MYRTX-Mri1a exhibits promising potential as a natural antibiotic substitute, thereby broadening the spectrum of available antibiotic-alternative agents. Furthermore, a reliable biosynthesis platform using Pichia pastoris was successfully developed, which lays a solid groundwork for future research and development of antibiotic alternatives. 我国“饲料禁抗、养殖减抗”政策实施后，新型抗生素替代产品的研发已成为迫切需求。在这种背景下，杀虫肽因具有功能多效性特征，且其杀虫活性与抗菌活性可能共享膜靶向机制，被认为是极具潜力的抗生素替代产品。本研究旨在验证源自欧洲红蚁毒液的杀虫肽U10-MYRTX-Mri1a的抗菌活性，并建立基于毕赤酵母表达系统的该肽生物合成平台，为开发抗生素替代产品提供实验依据与技术支持。基于“结构相似-功能跨界”的思路，本研究验证了U10-MYRTX-Mri1a对大肠杆菌和金黄色葡萄球菌的抗菌活性。通过化学合成获得U10-MYRTX-Mri1a，测定其对2种致病菌的最小抑菌浓度(minimum inhibitory concentration, MIC)分别为16 µmol/L和8 µmol/L，最小杀菌浓度(minimum bactericidal concentration, MBC)均为16 µmol/L。扫描电镜观察到肽处理导致菌体膜结构塌陷和细胞碎裂。同时，本研究采用组成型启动子甘油醛-3-磷酸脱氢酶(glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, GAP)，在毕赤酵母X33中表达融合肽U10-MYRTX-Mri1a-GNA，该融合肽对大肠杆菌和金黄色葡萄球菌的抑菌率分别为(89.37±2.22)%、(88.27±2.81)%，证明酵母表达的融合肽同样具有抗菌活性。上述研究结果初步证明杀虫肽U10-MYRTX-Mri1a是有抗生素替代潜力的天然产物，该结果拓宽了替抗产品来源。同时，成功建立的基于毕赤酵母生物合成肽平台，也为后续替抗研究与开发奠定了基础。.
Youth vaping prevalence varies across countries and may be related to differing regulations/products. The emergence of cheap disposable vapes and high-concentration nicotine salts heightened concerns related to youth's ease of access, dependence and potential health risks. We examined youth in England versus Canada and the United States and: how patterns of vaping/smoking varied, given the countries' different regulatory frameworks nicotine and potential toxicant exposure in youth who vape, smoke or do neither in youth who use salt and free-base nicotine respiratory symptom reporting. Objectives 1 and 4: Repeated cross-sectional surveys (International Tobacco Control Youth Tobacco and Vaping Surveys), England, Canada, United States, 2017-22, N = 1355-39,214, 16- to 19-year-olds, or 16- to 29-year-olds, depending on analysis. Objectives 2 and 3: International Tobacco Control Biomarker Sub-Study, England, Canada, United States, 2019-22, 16- to 19-year-olds, N = 364 and England-only Biomarker Sub-Study, 2022-3, 16- to 19-year-olds, N = 201. Past-week users and past 30-day non-users were tested. None, comparisons based on vaping/smoking status. Objective 1: Vape flavours, nicotine concentration, product types, brands used. Objectives 2 and 3: Urinary biomarkers, normalised for creatinine; tobacco-specific nitrosamine NNK (NNAL); volatile organic compounds (VOCs): acrolein (3HPMA), acrylamide (2CaHEMA), acrylonitrile (2CyEMA), benzene (PhMA), toluene (BzMA), xylene (24MPhMA); nicotine: cotinine, trans-3'-hydroxycotinine (3-HC), total nicotine equivalents. Objective 4: Self-reporting any of 5 past-week respiratory symptoms (e.g. cough and dyspnoea). Objective 1: Usual flavours were unchanged after 2020 United States pod-based vape flavour restrictions. Youth used exempt brands/products. Simultaneously, disposable vape use increased. In England, in 2022, 48% of 16- to 29-year-olds who vaped in past 30 days used Elf Bar brands, mainly for subjective responses (e.g. flavour/taste), rather than quitting smoking. Nicotine concentrations varied cross-country. Objectives 1, 2 and 3: Compared to smoking tobacco (exclusive or alongside vaping), exclusive vaping was associated with: similar nicotine exposure (those using nicotine salts had higher levels of nicotine metabolites vs. free-base/unknown); lower exposure to NNK, acrolein, acrylamide and acrylonitrile, but higher toluene exposure (than dual use). Compared with not vaping/smoking, exclusive vaping was associated with similar exposure to acrolein and acrylonitrile and higher exposure to toluene and acrylamide (past 24-hour sensitivity analysis). Benzene and xylene biomarkers were detected in < 5% of urine samples. Some country-level biomarker differences were observed. Objective 4: Vaping was associated with higher respiratory symptom reporting than not vaping/smoking. Youth who smoked and vaped had higher odds of symptoms than those only vaping. Using fruit, multiple or 'other' flavours was associated with higher odds of symptoms than tobacco flavours. Nicotine salt use was frequently unknown but may be associated with symptoms. Recall, misunderstandings and misreporting are possible. A subset of biomarkers was included, not all potential confounders were assessed and categorisation into vaping/smoking groups based on past-week behaviour does not fully account for past smoking exposure. Pod flavour restrictions were ineffective. Youth were increasingly using disposable vapes containing nicotine salts. Those who vape were exposed to lower levels of toxicants than those who smoke, but a few toxicants were higher compared to youth who did not vape/smoke. Self-reported past-week respiratory symptoms were also higher in those who vaped than those not vaping/smoking and were related to flavours. The rapidly evolving nicotine vape market needs ongoing survey/biomarker research. This synopsis presents independent research funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Public Health Research programme as award number NIHR130292. We wanted to learn about youth nicotine vaping: Whether different products are used across countries with different regulations? How much nicotine and substances that could cause harm are in their bodies? Are there links with coughs and other breathing symptoms? We conducted surveys of > 12,000 16- to 19-year-olds at least every year between 2017 and 2022, including over 9500 who vaped in England, Canada or the United States. In the United States, banning flavours in some vaping products was not associated with a change in flavours used, and more youth used disposables not covered by this ban. In England, about half of all who vaped used a specific brand, mainly because of its flavours. Nicotine concentrations in vapes varied across the countries, which is in line with the different regulations. To compare nicotine and harmful substances, we collected and tested urine from over 500 youth in England, Canada and the United States. Youth who vaped had nicotine levels like youth who smoked, but their levels of other substances were often very close to youth who did not vape or smoke. Responses from over 39,000 youth surveyed in 2020 or 2021 showed that symptoms like coughing and shortness of breath were similarly common among youth who vaped and youth who smoked, and these were less common among youth who did neither. Nicotine salts, a form of nicotine, were linked with higher nicotine levels in people’s bodies. Links with breathing symptoms were possible, but many people were unsure about whether nicotine salts were used. Youth who vaped had nicotine levels like youth who smoked, but they had much lower levels of other harmful substances. Youth who vape reported breathing issues. Different products may have different effects. Regulations should consider all product types to achieve their aims.
Abuse of topical corticosteroids (TCS) and "fairness creams" on the face has become a significant dermatological problem in India, leading to a spectrum of adverse effects known as topical steroid-damaged/dependent face (TSDF). This study aims to assess the demographic profile of patients with facial TCS misuse, evaluate their perceptions and awareness regarding steroid use, and document the clinical adverse effects associated with misuse. A prospective, questionnaire-based, observational cross-sectional study was conducted over two months (July-August 2025) in the Department of Dermatology, Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS), Western Uttar Pradesh. Ninety-six consecutive patients with a clinical diagnosis of TSDF were enrolled. Data regarding demographics, indications for use, source of recommendation, type and potency of steroids, duration of use, and cutaneous adverse effects were recorded in a preformed questionnaire and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 28.0 (Released 2021; IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Out of the 96 patients, 66 (68.8%) were females, and 30 (31.3%) were males, with a mean age of 29.42 years. Rural residents constituted 51 (53.1%) participants. The majority of the patients belonged to lower socioeconomic groups (59.4%). Non-prescription use was reported by 62 (64.6%) patients, most commonly recommended by pharmacists (32, 51.6%). Clobetasol propionate was the most frequently used steroid by 43 (44.8%) patients, and 45 (46.9%) patients had used other superpotent corticosteroids. The mean duration of use of topical agents was 13.65 months. Common indications for usage included melasma (39, 40.6%), tinea (29, 30.2%), and acne (24, 25%). The most frequent adverse effects were hypopigmentation (84, 87.5%), cutaneous atrophy (84, 87.5%), hypertrichosis (69, 71.9%), acneiform eruptions (61, 63.5%), and telangiectasia (61, 63.5%). A large proportion of patients (92, 95.8%) were unaware of the contents of the creams, and 94 participants (97.9%) did not read product leaflets. The overall total economic burden was INR 1,72,659 (USD 1885), with marked individual financial expenditure. Facial misuse of TCS is highly prevalent in Western Uttar Pradesh, largely driven by over-the-counter (OTC) availability, pharmacist recommendation, prescription by non-registered practitioners, and poor awareness. There is an urgent need for stricter regulation of potent steroids, banning irrational fixed-dose combinations, and large-scale public and pharmacist education to prevent further morbidity.
The worsening of headaches or the occurrence of new headaches can occur after coil embolization. Although the frequency of headaches is reported to be greater when a stent is used, this phenomenon is poorly understood. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the incidence and intensity of headache in patients treated with non-stent-assisted coil embolization (NSCE) versus stent-assisted coil embolization (SACE) for unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs). In this prospective comparative cohort study, a total of 186 patients treated with coil embolization for UIAs between June 2018 and March 2022 were classified into NSCE or SACE groups. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify risk factors for occurrence of headache, and changes in headache intensity over time were assessed using a linear mixed-effects model. Headaches occurred in 71.0% (132/186) of patients after coil embolization. During the 3-month follow-up, headaches after coil embolization were more common in patients who underwent SACE (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.57; p = 0.02). Female sex, cilostazol medication use, and pre-existing headache were also independently associated with the occurrence of headache after coil embolization. Changes in numeric rating scale (NRS) scores according to stent placement status and trends in NRS scores over time based on stent placement status were not statistically significant. Patients treated with SACE were more likely to experience headache after coil embolization than those treated with NSCE were. However, changes in headache intensity over time were not significantly different between the groups.
Flupyradifurone is a butenolide insecticide with growing agricultural significance as a substitute for classical neonicotinoids, which have been partially banned in the EU and other countries. It also acts as an agonist on acetylcholine receptors in the insect central nervous system, but its neurophysiological effects on individual interneurons are poorly understood. Here, we investigated the effects of sublethal flupyradifurone intoxication on the neural processing of auditory information in the field cricket Gryllus bimaculatus. Using a suction electrode on the brain surface, we recorded the spiking activity of the two ascending auditory interneurons AN1 and AN2 while injecting the insecticide into the prothorax. Flupyradifurone caused a dose-dependent decrease in sound-evoked spike responses and an increase in spontaneous spiking activity in both ascending auditory interneurons, eventually leading up to a collapse of all spiking activity the highest dose tested (20 µl of 10- 3 mol/l). The substantial increase of spontaneous spiking activity in AN1 and AN2, which started with 20 µl of 10- 5 mol/l flupyradifurone treatment, will mask the neuronal coding of relevant acoustic signals required for auditory feature detection in the higher brain circuits. Field crickets rely on AN1 to transmit low-frequency auditory information for pattern recognition in phonotactic mate finding, and on AN2 to transmit high-frequency auditory information for sound source localization in predator avoidance behaviour. The disruption of auditory processing at the level of ascending interneurons by this insecticide will negatively impact the chances for reproduction and survival in crickets.
Premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) remains high in twelve Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) countries - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. Although WHO-recommended "Best Buys" offer effective strategies to reduce NCDs, their implementation in EECA remains poorly documented. We conducted a cross-country, retrospective analysis of the adoption and implementation of population-level NCD "Best Buys" interventions targeting tobacco, alcohol, diet, and physical activity across EECA from 2010 (or earliest available year) to 2024 (or latest available year), aiming to identify progress, gaps, and priorities for action. Data were sourced from WHO NCD Country Capacity Surveys and other global databases and monitoring reports. A scoring system (0-1) captured implementation status, and spider charts and summary tables visualized trends over time. Tobacco control showed the most progress, with widespread adoption of taxation and graphic warnings. However, the implementation of smoke-free laws, cessation support, and media campaigns was inconsistent. Alcohol policies varied: most countries increased taxes and banned advertising, but gaps persisted in sales restrictions, health warnings, and treatment services. Adoption of nutrition policies remained inconsistent, with substantial gaps in food reformulation, labelling, fiscal tools, and education. Physical activity campaigns were common, but integration into healthcare systems was poorly documented. Disparities in implementation were observed across and within countries, in terms of the number and combination of "Best Buys" strategies adopted. Despite some progress, major gaps remain in the implementation of population-level NCD "Best Buys" across EECA. Greater prioritization of cost-effective tobacco, alcohol, nutrition, and physical activity strategies is needed. Subregional and country-level analyses of NCD "Best Buys" implementation over time can help policymakers identify progress and gaps, guiding targeted, evidence-informed action to address shared behavioral risks and thereby prevent many NCDs, and contributing to equitable and sustainable health outcomes.
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Microorganisms have evolved complex metabolic adaptations to environmental stresses in intricate microbial communities. However, the adaptive strategies of bacteria against the competitive stress from fungi are still poorly understood. Here, we reported an adaptive strategy adopted by Bacillus licheniformis in response to Saccharomyces cerevisiae stress. The growth of B. licheniformis in the presence of S. cerevisiae was reduced at 24 h, followed by a complete recovery after 48 h, coupled with a full-process reduction in biofilm formation. Meantime, genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism were significantly upregulated, and those involved in biofilm formation were significantly downregulated in B. licheniformis at 24 h. When B. licheniformis was cultured in S. cerevisiae conditioned medium, differentially upregulated metabolites after 24 h of incubation were primarily enriched in tryptophan metabolism pathway, with significant accumulation of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and its precursors. Supplementation with IAA suppressed biofilm formation in a concentration-dependent manner and promoted biomass recovery at later fermentation stages, as well as upregulation of genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism and downregulation of genes involved in biofilm formation at 24 h. This study revealed that IAA acted as a bacterial signaling molecule via reducing biofilm formation to promote the growth recovery against the stress from fungi.
The Sarno River Basin (SRB) is among the most polluted rivers in Europe. The contamination derives from industrial activities, intensive agriculture and dense urbanization. To assess the geochemical-environmental conditions of the SRB, OCP concentrations from 42 topsoil samples falling within the study area were evaluated to investigate their distribution patterns and infer pollution sources. The concentration of Ʃ24OCPs ranges from 0.15 to 345 µg/kg. Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its isomers and metabolites represent the most abundant compounds (0.021-339 µg/kg), with p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE) showing the highest concentrations (up to 230 µg/kg). Isomeric ratios were calculated to determine whether the detected concentrations are consistent with relatively fresh applications or historical residues of these substances. An OCP Recency Index (ORI) was developed by integrating multiple diagnostic ratios across OCP groups to provide a spatially consistent indicator of the relative contribution of recent versus legacy inputs. Results showed that, although the use of most OCPs is currently banned, more recent applications of pesticide mixtures presumably contribute to high soil concentrations found in some parts of the study area. In addition, a human health risk assessment was conducted, focusing on adult workers. The analysis revealed that carcinogenic risks associated with DDT isomers are widespread, in some cases well above the levels considered acceptable according to USEPA guidelines, indicating a significant potential health concern for individuals engaged in agricultural activities. In contrast, risks associated with other OCP groups were limited to a few isolated samples or were absent.
Global literature indicates that polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD), types of brominated flame retardants (BFRs), are increasingly found in children's plastic products. These products are widely sold in South Africa. PBDEs and HBCDD are persistent organic pollutants (POPs) banned under the Stockholm Convention due to their severe health impacts, including endocrine disruption, neurotoxicity, and cancer. Information about chemicals present in these plastic products is necessary to inform risk reduction measures. This study assessed the availability and accessibility of information on POP-BFRs in children's plastic products in South Africa to enhance stakeholders' capacity to implement risk reduction measures. The study was guided by the chemicals-in-products (CiP) information-sharing framework developed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 2015. Data collection involved in-depth interviews and an online survey. South African stakeholders participated, including those involved in manufacturing, regulation, and advocacy (n = 10) and consumers (n = 44). Data was analyzed thematically using NVivo. CiP information on POP-BFRs in children's plastic products was largely unavailable. Regulatory and advocacy stakeholders had limited general information on POP-BFRs and the associated risks. Additionally, they had limited access to POP-BFRs information, while consumers had none. National and international coordinated actions are necessary to close the POP-BFRs information gaps. The South African government should develop and enforce an overarching chemical legislation, establish a national chemical register, and require full disclosure of CiP. UNEP should establish a global standardized system for CiP information under the 2023 Global Framework on Chemicals. If they are not labeled, how do we know what’s risky and what not? - Assessing information on brominated flame retardants in children’s plastic products in South Africa Why was the study done? The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) emphasizes the importance of providing information about hazardous chemicals in consumer products. This information helps stakeholders make informed decisions and take steps to reduce risks. Brominated flame retardants, which are hazardous chemicals, are increasingly found in children’s plastic products. Children are the most vulnerable to these chemicals’ effects. However, it is unclear whether the necessary information about these chemicals is available and accessible to key stakeholders to help them implement risk reduction measures to protect children. What did the researchers do? The researchers gathered data from 54 South African stakeholders to better understand the availability and accessibility of information on brominated flame retardants in children’s products, enabling us to develop policy recommendations to fill existing gaps. What did the researchers find? Information about the presence of the brominated flame retardants in children was largely unavailable. Law enforcement and advocacy stakeholders had limited access to general information about these chemicals, and consumers had none. What do the findings mean? This study has identified key gaps that should be the focus of future policies, both nationally and internationally, to enhance the availability and accessibility of information about hazardous chemicals, such as brominated flame retardants, in daily-use products. These include creating a comprehensive national chemical law that requires the manufacturing industry to be fully transparent about product chemical content. Additionally, UNEP should develop a standard format for disclosing such chemical information.