International Journal of Environmental Health Research最新文献

Waterborne illnesses caused by contaminated water are increasing due to lack of accessibility to clean drinking water. This study investigates the microbial safety and antibiotic resistance profiles of waterborne microbes in different drinking water sources of Ludhiana, Punjab. Using most probable number as the selection criteria, 66% samples showed the presence of coliforms and other microbes with count ranging from 3 to 2600/100 mL. Overall, 50% of tap water samples were found to be unacceptable, followed by submersible (25%) and filters/RO systems (20%). The results revealed the presence of microbial contaminants, including Pseudomonas spp. Staphylococcus spp. E. coli, Klebsiella spp. Salmonella spp. Enterococcus spp. Citrobacter spp. and Proteus spp. Furthermore, antibiotic susceptibility testing by well diffusion method showed high levels of resistance, particularly to β-lactams, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, monobactam and cephalosporins, highlighting the critical issue of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) in water systems. Maximum multiple drug resistance index was seen in Enterococcus spp. (0.916), followed by Proteus spp. (0.83), Pseudomonas spp. and Staphylococcus spp. (0.58). The study underscores the importance of stringent necessity for water quality monitoring to mitigate the risks posed by ARB. Further, advanced molecular detection of antibiotic resistance genes is required to enable targeted interventions and prevent their spread.

Objective: Despite exposure to high concentrations of particulate matter (PM) and gases on the fire ground, little is known about the impact of wildfire smoke on the eye surface of wildland firefighters. This field study investigated the impact of smoke exposure at prescribed burns on the eye surface of Australian wildland firefighters.

Methods: Twenty-three firefighters (19-60 years, 78% male) were evaluated before and after four prescribed burns for eye symptoms and clinical signs of eye surface damage. Types of protective eyewear used were recorded and a subset of firefighters wore PM2.5 personal monitors.

Results: Symptoms of eye discomfort, dryness and foreign body sensation increased after the burns, along with epithelial staining scores, eye surface redness and palpebral conjunctival roughness. Tear film stability reduced after the burns. Group mean PM2.5 exposure during the burns ranged from 130 to 480 µg/m³. All firefighters reported wearing sunglasses or goggles 40% to 100% of the time during the burns. Four firefighters (17%) wore no eye protection for 20% to 90% of the time.

Conclusion: Wildland firefighters experience increased eye irritation and display eye surface clinical changes consistent with eye surface damage. Evidence-based recommendations on how to prevent and manage eye surface complications in firefighters are urgently needed.

Infections caused by Escherichiacoli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Listeria monocytogenes are linked to contaminated food or water, while antibiotic resistance limits treatment options. Plant extracts are considered potential alternatives, and deep eutectic solvents and natural deep eutectic solvents (DES and NADES) offer a sustainable approach to metabolite extraction. Yucca schidigera powder was extracted using butanol (YSBE) and a NADES composed of choline chloride and lactic acid at a 1:1 molar ratio (YS-NADES). Bromatological composition, saponin content, total phenols and flavonoids, emulsifying and foaming capacities, antioxidant activity, and antibacterial properties were analyzed. YSBE contained 25.43% saponins, while YS-NADES had 0.093%. YSBE had higher protein (0.73%) and carbohydrate (77.5%) content than YS-NADES (0.03% and 0.95%, respectively). Antioxidant activity (DPPH, TEAC, ORAC) was significantly higher in YSBE than in YS-NADES. Phenol and flavonoid concentrations were also greater in YSBE. E. coli showed less sensitivity to both extracts than S. Typhimurium, S. aureus, and L. monocytogenes, while S. Typhimurium was less sensitive to YS-NADES. This study provides insights into the bromatological composition, antioxidant potential, and antibacterial properties of Y. schidigera extracted with NADES, highlighting its potential applications.

Diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), a common plasticizer, has been associated with hormone disruption and carcinogenesis, but its molecular impact on uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC) remains unclear. This study aims to computationally identify a gene signature based on known DEHP-associated toxic targets and evaluates their clinical and immunological relevance in UCEC. DEGs were intersected with DEHP targets from CTD and TargetNet databases. PPI networks, functional enrichment, and survival analyses were conducted. Prognostic genes were identified using Cox and LASSO regression. DEHP risk score models and nomograms were constructed. Immune infiltration was analyzed using ESTIMATE and ssGSEA algorithms. Molecular docking was performed via CB-Dock2. Seventy-five genetic targets linked to DEHP in toxicological databases were identified, and enrichment analyses revealed DEHP-related genes enriched in neurotransmission and hormone signaling pathways. Seven prognostic genes (HTR3A, GRM2, HTR6, THRB, TUBB2B, FOLH1, PGR) correlated with overall survival and histologic grade. The DEHP risk score effectively stratified patients. DEHP-THRB showed strongest binding affinity, suggesting direct toxicological interaction. This study characterizes a computationally derived gene signature associated with DEHP toxicity in UCEC, highlighting their prognostic and immunological significance as potential molecular footprints, while acknowledging that direct exposure inference requires future validation with measured biomonitoring data.

Microorganisms involved in composting can become airborne during turning-over and screening, potentially impacting the health of workers and nearby residents. This study investigated bioaerosol emissions at a municipal solid waste composting facility and their associated health risks. Air samples were collected at multiple locations, from 100 m upwind of the facility to 100 m downwind of the facility boundary, to assess bacterial and fungal concentrations. The highest bioaerosol levels with a mean concentration of 9307 CFU/m³ and 763 CFU/m³ for bacteria and fungi, respectively, were observed at the turning-over site, followed by the screening area. Bioaerosol concentrations declined with distance from the turning-over site, and at 250 m downwind, bioaerosol levels fell below background concentrations, indicating a safe zone for surrounding communities. Environmental factors such as wind speed influenced bacterial emission from composting piles, while temperature is negatively correlated with fungal concentrations in ambient air, likely due to low humidity in the semi-arid climate. The findings indicate that certain composting stages release elevated bioaerosol levels, particularly bacteria, posing potential health risks to workers. However, exposure risks for nearby residents appear minimal, and fungal bioaerosols pose a low risk due to reduced spore survival under low-humidity conditions of semi-arid regions.

Antibiotic resistance has emerged as one of the most significant public health concerns of the twenty-first century. The excessive and inappropriate use of antibiotics has accelerated the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and genes (ARGs). Rapid urbanization and anthropogenic activities further facilitate the dissemination of ARB and ARGs into downstream river ecosystems through the discharge of treated effluents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The study investigates the occurrence, seasonal variations, and distribution of selected ARGs (blaNDM-1, blaSHV, blaCTX-M, ermB, qnrS, and vanA) and intI1 gene in WWTPs and downstream river environments. Samples (inlet, treated wastewater, and activated sludge) were collected during the winter and summer seasons over 1 year from three WWTPs employing different treatment technologies, as well as from the Ganges River (water and sediment) in North Indian cities: Kanpur, Prayagraj, and Varanasi. The results indicated that WWTPs significantly reduced ARB and ARG levels in treated effluents, a marked increase in their abundance was observed in the downstream Ganges River environment. These findings highlight that WWTPs may serve as potential hotspots for the dissemination of ARB and ARGs into the freshwater ecosystems, underscoring the urgent need for advanced treatment and monitoring strategies to mitigate antibiotic resistance spread.

We searched Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Embase (2000-2025) for studies reporting ClO₄^- levels in drinking water. Data on country, water source type, concentration (mean/SD), and analytical methods were extracted. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed to estimate pooled ClO₄^- concentrations. Non-carcinogenic risk was evaluated using the Hazard Quotient (HQ), with Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) model to account for uncertainties in exposure parameters (concentration, ingestion rate, body weight). The meta-analysis revealed significant regional variability, with the highest ClO₄^- concentrations in the United Arab Emirates (370.05 μg/L), Chile (96.82 μg/L), and India (80 μg/L), exceeding WHO and USEPA guidelines. Groundwater had substantially higher levels (pooled mean: 5.55 μg/L) than surface water (0.22 μg/L). Probabilistic risk assessment identified elevated HQ values ( >1) in the UAE (17.67), Chile (5.56), India (3.08), Namibia (2.55), and Japan (1.25), indicating potential thyroid disruption risks. In contrast, most European and East Asian countries showed negligible risk (HQ < 1). ClO₄^- contamination in drinking water poses significant health risks in regions with high industrial activity, arid climates, or natural geological deposits. Groundwater is particularly vulnerable due to prolonged accumulation. Regulatory measures, advanced treatment, and targeted monitoring are urgently needed in high-risk areas to mitigate exposure.

This study examines the concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in frequently consumed spices using inductively coupled plasma - optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The risk assessment of exposure to these metals was also investigated through probabilistic Monte Carlo simulation to estimate non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks. The findings indicated that the highest PTEs concentrations were found in curry (189.27 mg/kg), while turmeric had the lowest levels (111.87 mg/kg). Mn had the highest concentration among all the spices, followed by Fe (with the exception of black pepper), while Cd had the lowest concentration through spices (0.7 mg/kg). Moreover, for all spices, several metals' levels in packaged types were significantly higher than in bulk types. The findings also depicted that children are at greater risk than adults. The results showed that while non-carcinogenic risks were within acceptable limits (below 1), arsenic exposure through spice consumption posed a carcinogenic risk, particularly for children (greater than 1.00E-4). However, our findings showed that total target hazard quotient (TTHQ) for the cumulative risk of all spices consumption were 1.45 and 2.84 for adults and children, respectively, indicating considerable non-carcinogenic risk. Overall, the study underscores the need for stricter regulations of toxic element levels in spices to ensure food safety.

This study measured nitrite concentrations in eighty groundwater samples collected from Sohag Governorate, Egypt, and assessed the biochemical effects of nitrites on male rats. The Nazat El Hajer well in Juhayna City showed the highest nitrite concentration (0.92 mg/L), exceeding the allowable long-term exposure limit of 0.2 mg/kg. Additionally, we assessed the palliative effects of vitamin C and cod liver oil, as antioxidants, in reducing nitrite-induced toxicity in male rats. Seventy-five adult male rats were divided into five groups; GI: control; GII: drinking water (Nazat El Hajer) for 3 months; GIII: sodium nitrite (80 mg/kg BW) for 3 months; GIV: sodium nitrite for 45 days followed by vitamin C (80 mg/kg BW) daily for 45 days; GV: sodium nitrite for 45 days followed by cod liver oil (80 mg/kg BW) daily for 45 days. Results showed a significant increase in serum AST, ALT, ALP, creatinine, urea, and interleukin-6, along with a significant decrease in TAC, catalase, albumin, cytochrome-c- oxidase, hemoglobin, and RBCs in the nitrite-treated groups. These findings indicate that high concentrations of nitrites caused marked hepatic and hematologic toxicity. Furthermore, both the vitamin C and cod liver oil groups exhibited significant improvement in all measured parameters.

Giardia is a widespread intestinal protozoan infecting both humans and livestock, and is notable for its zoonotic transmission potential. This study aimed to assess the genetic assemblages of Giardia in cattle, sheep, and goats slaughtered in Jahrom, Iran. A total of 540 fecal samples from slaughtered 90 cattle, 247 sheep, and 203 goats were initially screened for Giardia cysts using microscopy and nested PCR targeting the glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) gene was performed. Microscopic analysis of fecal samples revealed that 35 samples (6.5%) were positive for Giardia cysts. The overall prevalence of infection was 6.9% in sheep and goats, and 4.4% in cattle. Out of 20 isolates selected for molecular characterization, 12 were successfully sequenced, identifying assemblages AI (n = 5), AII (n = 1), and E (n = 6). All assemblage A and five assemblage E samples were associated with formed stools, while one assemblage E isolate was linked to diarrhea. Phylogenetic analysis showed that assemblage A isolates were related to human, animal, and environmental strains. Prevalence was significantly higher in younger animals and was also associated with stool consistency. The presence of assemblage A underscores a zoonotic risk, emphasizing the need for monitoring and control in livestock to reduce human infection.