Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine最新文献

Introduction and objective: The general population is exposed to silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) released into the environment, e.g. through the respiratory tract. Lung cancers are among the most frequently diagnosed and deadly malignancies, often diagnosed at late stage with existing distant metastases. The aim of the study was to determine the activity of AgNPs against A549 lung cancer cells.

Material and methods: A549 cells and AgNPs were used in the study. Cytotoxicity was tested by MTT and NR assays. Oxidative stress was determined by measuring malonyldialdehyde and level of free -SH groups Proteins secretion was assessed using the Human Profiler Cytokine Array Kit assay.

Results: AgNPs reduce A549 cells viability and induce oxidative stress. They also lead to increased secretion of several proinflammatory proteins, which stimulate metastasis.

Conclusions: AgNPs exhibit direct anti-cancer effect, however, their potentially promethastic effect encourages further work on the safety of nanomaterials.

Introduction and objective: Studies on volunteering concern mainly the population aged over 16, and the results refer mainly to Western Europe. Adolescent volunteering in Eastern European countries is relatively understudied. The aim of the study was to investigate and discuss the scale of this phenomenon in Poland, the predictors of being a volunteer, and factors which explain how much time adolescents spend volunteering.

Material and methods: The study was conducted on a representative group of 3,545 respondents aged 14-15. 26.6% of the surveyed adolescents were involved in volunteering in the 12 months preceding the study.

Results: The probability of being a volunteer is explained by contextual factors (higher regional income per capita and higher unemployment rate decrease this probability, whereas it increases by living in a city), family factors (father's work in agriculture and more children in the family), individual factors (higher self-esteem of physical fitness and less helplessness). The amount of time devoted to volunteering is explained by contextual factors (the higher the income from agriculture), family factors (mother's work in agriculture; mother's lower level of education), individual factors (greater self-efficacy, lower feeling of helplessness). Volunteering undertaken because of a passion for volunteering is associated with longer volunteering time, while undertaken because of the desire to be liked and respected - with shorter volunteering time.

Conclusions: The results are of practical importance, as they show the possibility to promote adolescents' volunteering.

Introduction and objective: Intensive poultry farming is usually associated with massive exposure to organic dust, which is largely composed of microbiological origin particulates. The aim of the study is to assess occupational and environmental exposures to airborne bacteria, fungi, and Marek's disease virus emitted by a poultry house.

Material and methods: The concentrations of airborne microorganisms in a poultry house and its vicinity (250-500 m) at 3 different stages of the production cycle (i.e. empty poultry house, with 7-day-old and 42-day-old chickens) were stationary measured using Andersen and MAS impactors, as well as Coriolis and BioSampler impingers. The collected microbiota was taxonomically identified using molecular and biochemical techniques to characterize occupational exposure and its spatial dissemination.

Results: Although Marek's disease virus was not present in the tested air samples, the appearance of reared chickens in the poultry house resulted in an increase in airborne bacterial and fungal concentrations up to levels of 1.26 × 10⁸ CFU/m³ and 3.77 × 10⁴ CFU/m³, respectively. These pollutants spread around through the ventilation system, but their concentrations significantly decreased at a distance of 500 m from the chicken coop. A part of the identified microbiota was pathogens that were successfully isolated from the air by all 4 tested samplers.

Conclusions: The poultry house employees were exposed to high concentrations of airborne microorganisms, including pathogens that may lead to adverse health outcomes. To protect them, highly efficient hygienic and technical measures regarding the poultry house interior and its ventilation, respectively, should be introduced to prevent both unwanted pollution and subsequent emission of microbial contaminants during intensive chicken breeding.