Danger Dust

The chemicals—associated with health problems including several types of cancer, such as breast, kidney and testicular cancer—are used in gear to repel water and other substances when fighting a fire.

The multilayered coats and pants worn by firefighters have become the latest battleground over PFAS, which are found in everything from food packaging to clothing. In 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency for the first time proposed limits on the chemicals in drinking water.

The International Association of Fire Fighters or IAFF has said that cancer has replaced heart disease as the biggest cause of line-of-duty deaths. Firefighters have been shown to be at higher risk than the general population of getting several types of cancer.

An international collaboration, involving researchers from Monash University and the University of Oxford, has led to a breakthrough in our understanding of how immune responses are started.

The human immune system comprises multiple important white blood cells (i.e., lymphocytes) including B cells and T cells that fight off infections and cancers. Basic discoveries leading to an understanding of how lymphocytes function have led to the development of immunotherapies and vaccines.

The Yukon River flows west across Alaska toward the Bering Sea, eroding Arctic permafrost along its banks and transporting sediment downstream. Within that sediment lurks a toxic stowaway: mercury.

As the Arctic warms with climate change, heating up to four times faster than the global average, mercury sequestered in the permafrost for millennia is being eroded by rivers and released into the environment.

In a study published in Environmental Research Letters today, researchers at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences introduce a more accurate method to measure the amount of mercury released from permafrost by the river and estimate the total mercury awaiting release.

The toxic metal poses an environmental and health threat to the 5 million people living in the Arctic zone, more than 3 million of whom live in areas where permafrost is expected to vanish altogether by 2050.

Mercury stocks in discontinuous permafrost and their mobilization by river migration in the Yukon River Basin

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ad536e

Lyme disease (also called Lyme borreliosis in Europe), a condition caused by spirochete bacteria of the genus Borrelia, transmitted by hard-bodied Ixodes ticks, is currently the most prevalent and rapidly expanding tick-borne disease in the United States and Europe.

Our analysis elucidates the evolutionary origins, historical migration, and sources of genomic variability of these clinically important pathogens. We have developed web-based software tools (BorreliaBase.org) to facilitate dissemination and continued comparative analysis of Borrelia genomes to identify determinants of human pathogenicity.

Food crops around the world are commonly contaminated with Aspergillus flavus, which can produce the carcinogenic mycotoxin aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). The objective of this study is to test an X-ray irradiation sterilization method for studying AFB1 in contaminated maize samples in the laboratory.

Our results imply that X-ray irradiation is an effective means of reducing viable A. flavus without affecting AFB1 concentrations. Reducing the hazard of fungal spores and halting AFB1 production at the targeted dose are important steps to safely and reproducibly move forward research on the global mycotoxin challenge.

These findings are important because they show the effective sterilization of a food product using non-radioactive, non-thermal, and non-chemical X-ray irradiation, which has rarely been performed on food and can be tested more broadly using other food matrices.

Because mycotoxins are prevalent in the global food supply, it is critical that scientists study food products in the laboratory while keeping exposure to the hazards of mycotoxin-contaminated materials to a minimum. X-ray irradiation can help neutralize two out of three of the following primary hazards of working with AFB1-contaminated materials: inhalation of spores, contamination of other research materials, and toxic/carcinogenic quality.

The carcinogenic hazard of AFB1 remains present and can be mitigated by proper handling. X-ray irradiation could be a good alternative to current sterilization techniques, especially given the safety profile of the technique and the expected increase in adoption and availability of equipment in the future.

Clostridioides difficile (C. diff), a type of bacteria which often affects people who have taken antibiotics, is responsible for approximately 2,000 deaths annually in the UK.

Researchers from the University of Sheffield and the University of Manchester have found C. diff is able to evolve high levels of vancomycin resistance very quickly—in less than two months the bacteria could tolerate 32 times the normally effective antibiotic concentration.

Their research is published in the journal PLOS Biology.

Identification of pathways to high-level vancomycin resistance in Clostridioides difficile that incur high fitness costs in key pathogenicity traits

https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3002741

Cancer is no longer a death sentence. Across Europe, around 20 million people are now living beyond their disease. But their efforts to return to normal life are severely hampered by a particularly unjust form of financial discrimination.

Despite robust scientific evidence that they are cured, cancer survivors across Europe routinely face discrimination in accessing financial services and products like loans, mortgages, and travel and health insurance.

Cases of Black Lung Disease, especially in younger miners are currently skyrocketing.

They are contracting more severe forms of the disease earlier in their mining career. That’s why New River Health Association and Cabin Creek and Valley Health are holding a town hall on Thursday, August 15 at New River Convention Center so the miners can learn their rights.

According to the breathing center director, embedded coal and silica dust in lung tissue cause inflammation. That’s what creates scaring and nodules. Symptoms of black lung will present as shortness of breath and coughing.

“Lungs can cause a lot of heart disease,” said Emery. “And so you have these co-morbidities with black lung because it’s going to cause a lot more than just lung disease.”

B-cells are immune cells that make antibodies, the proteins that grab onto foreign invaders and mark them for destruction. B-cells are born in the bone marrow and then spread throughout the body, gaining experience against viruses, bacteria and other bad actors as they go. When a piece of an invader is presented to a B-cell, the B-cell copies it and then manufactures antibodies to combat it.

But sometimes B-cells get confused, and begin making antibodies against friendly cells in the body instead. This can cause autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis or lupus. B-cells can also be involved in cancers such as lymphoma.

Certain treatments for lymphoma, lupus, multiple sclerosis, and other B-cell diseases try to deplete the body of the B-cells doing the damage. For some people, these treatments can be very effective. But not for all people; sometimes the treatments worsen the disease. And sometimes the treatments work for a little while, but when stopped, symptoms flare up again.

The researchers are now looking to find partners who study multiple sclerosis animal models, or other autoimmune disease models in animals, to test whether blocking Ubxn3b would truly be therapeutic. They also plan on developing a detailed molecular mechanism explaining how the gene regulates B-cell survival.

UBXN3B is crucial for B lymphopoiesis

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/ebiom/article/PIIS2352-3964(24)00284-6/fulltext

You’ve probably heard of the microbiome — the hordes of bacteria and other tiny life forms that live in our guts. Well, it turns out those bacteria have viruses that exist in and around them — with important consequences for both them and us.

Meet the phageome.

Quartz stone is primarily composed of crystalline silica. When factory workers or kitchen installers work with artificial stone, a very fine dust, rich in silica, is released into the air. This dust, known as respirable crystalline silica, is harmful to human lungs and can lead to various diseases over time.

Furthermore, the resins, metals, and pigments used in the composition of quartz artificial stone make this dust even more toxic and harmful. After years of observation and research, Australian doctors have found that prolonged work with quartz stone leads to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other illnesses.

People suffering from COPD have difficulty breathing, cough constantly, and tire quickly. Another potential consequence is silicosis, where lung tissue gradually hardens and scars due to silica dust exposure. People with silicosis are at higher risk for developing tuberculosis, kidney failure, arthritis, and lung cancer. 

A major incident has been declared in the West Midlands after sodium cyanide was spilled into a canal, with the Walsall council warning of a potential serious health risk to anyone who has had direct physical contact with the water.

Walsall council said people must avoid an extended area of the canal and towpaths from the Walsall lock flight to the lock flights at Rushall, Ryders Green and Perry Barr.

In a statement, the council said it was notified of a spillage in Pleck by the Environment Agency on 12 August that had gone directly into the canal. The agency was testing the canal water for sodium cyanide and other chemicals in the affected area.

Ingesting cyanide salts, which can dissolve in water, releases cyanide into the body, according to Public Health England. Exposure to the chemical can cause headaches, nausea, dizziness, confusion, changes in heart rate and loss of consciousness, according to the agency.

Key Points

*Elon Musk’s SpaceX violated environmental regulations in releasing pollutants into or nearby bodies of water in Texas, a state environmental agency said in a notice last week.

The report from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) came five months after the Environmental Protection Agency also notified SpaceX that it had violated the Clean Water Act.

The violations could threaten SpaceX’s ambitions to increase Startship launches from its Starbase facility in South Texas. *

Elon Musk’s SpaceX violated environmental regulations by repeatedly releasing pollutants into or near bodies of water in Texas, a state agency said in a notice of violation focused on the company’s water deluge system at its Starbase launch facility.

The notice from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) last week came five months after the Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 office, which covers Texas and surrounding states, had also informed SpaceX that it violated the Clean Water Act with the same type of activity.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) for the first time broke the glass today and sounded its loudest available public health alarm about the rapid spread of mpox. “With a heavy heart but an unyielding commitment to our African citizens we declare mpox as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security,” Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya said at a media briefing this morning.

The declaration of the emergency, known as a PHECS, came after a discussion among health ministers and other experts across the continent. It was not “a mere formality,” Kaseya stressed, but marked the need to change footing. “We can no longer afford to be reactive,” he said. “We must be proactive and aggressive in our effort to contend and eliminate this threat.”

The announcement was not unexpected, given the virus’ rapid strides on the continent. African countries have had 17,541 mpox cases this year, according to an Africa CDC update on 9 August. More than 95% have occurred in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which had a surge of more than 2000 suspected cases in the week preceding the report. Over the past few weeks, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi have all reported confirmed cases of mpox for the first time, according to a 12 August report from the World Health Organization (WHO). Several of those cases were clade 1b, a variant that has recently emerged in the DRC and has quickly spread there.

The extraction and manipulation of granite and slate continues to be the most important source of silica exposure in Spain. However, in the 1990s, a new profile of especially severe silicosis associated with artificial silica conglomerates emerged. These materials, composed of crystalline silica, mainly quartz and cristobalite, dyes and acrylic resin, are widely used in the manufacture of countertops for kitchens and bathrooms.

The damage produced by silica has some special characteristics that prompt us to call it a polyhedric disease.

However, our knowledge of the pathogenic mechanisms of damage caused by silica inhalation is steadily growing.

The likelihood of developing connective tissue disease is enhanced in subjects with exposure to silica and silicosis.

Silica inhalation is also associated with other adverse effects that occur at lower doses than those needed to cause silicosis, including chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and an increased risk of lung cancer.

Occupational exposure to silica or silicon dioxide dust has been examined as a possible risk factor with respect to several diseases, like tuberculosis, lung cancer, systemic vasculitis , rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis , systemic lupus erythematosus , renal involvement , etc.

Early in 1951, Saita G et al.firstly reported that the renal functions were decreased in some silicosis patients. Subsequently, several epidemiological evidences suggested that the silica exposure was associated with an increased risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), chronic kidney disease (CKD), or specifically glomerulonephritis.

Silica nephropathy referred to the floorboard of kidney diseases after exposure to silica or silicon dioxide, including tubulo-interstitial disease, immune-mediated disease, chronic kidney disease, and end-stage renal disease. In literatures, the renal histopathology of silica nephropathy was varied, including focal glomerurevieritis, necrotizing glomerulonephritis, crescentic glomerulonephritis, etc.

Microplastic pollution poses a growing threat to ecosystems globally, necessitating sustainable solutions. This study explores upcycling microplastics into graphene as a promising approach Traditional methods like pyrolysis and catalytic carbonization are slow and compromise graphene quality.

In summary, this research has successfully demonstrated the APMP synthesis as a rapid and facile method for fabricating graphene from microplastics, marking a significant milestone in this field.

This research not only pioneers a novel approach to graphene synthesis but also contributes to the broader goal of mitigating the adverse effects of microplastic pollution on our ecosystems.

Much smaller in size than the diameter of an average human hair, nanoplastics are invisible to the naked eye.

Linked to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases in people, nanoplastics continue to build up, largely unnoticed, in the world's bodies of water. The challenge remains to develop a cost-effective solution to get rid of nanoplastics while leaving clean water behind.

Recently, researchers at the university created a new liquid-based solution that eliminates more than 98% of these microscopic plastic particles from water.

The innovative method—using water-repelling solvents made from natural ingredients—not only offers a practical solution to the pressing issue of nanoplastic pollution but also paves the way for further research and development in advanced water purification technologies.

As global warming intensifies, people increasingly suffer from extreme heat. For those working in a high-temperature environment indoors or outdoors, keeping thermally comfortable becomes particularly crucial.

Thermal protective clothing is essential to safeguard individuals in extreme high-temperature environments, such as firefighters who need to be present at fire scenes and construction workers who work outdoors for extended periods.

Soft Robotic Textiles for Adaptive Personal Thermal Management

Thermal protective textiles are crucial for safeguarding individuals, particularly firefighters and steelworkers, against extreme heat, and for preventing burn injuries. However, traditional firefighting gear suffers from statically fixed thermal insulation properties, potentially resulting in overheating and discomfort in moderate conditions, and insufficient protection in extreme fire events.

Herein, an innovative soft robotic textile is developed for dynamically adaptive thermal management, providing superior personal protection and thermal comfort across a spectrum of environmental temperatures.

This unique textile features a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)-sealed actuation system, embedded with a low boiling point fluid for reversible phase transition, resembling an endoskeleton that triggers an expansion within the textile matrix for enhanced air gap and thermal insulation. 

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/advs.202309605

Oropouche virus is an arthropod-borne virus – meaning it’s transmitted to humans if they’re bitten by infected midges or mosquitoes. It’s the most prevalent arthropod-borne viral disease in south America – after dengue virus.

The virus was first discovered in 1955 in a forest worker who had contracted it working near the Oropouche river in Trinidad and Tobago. The first large outbreak was reported in the 1960s in Belém, Brazil, where 11,000 cases were recorded.

Congress appears interested in passing mining legislation. But bills that would expand access to hard-rock minerals across the U.S. ignore supply chain standards and environmental consequences.

Copper and potash might not seem like the stuff of high drama, but controversy over critical minerals and the question of whether some should truly be considered “critical” is playing out in the halls of Congress right now. A rush for mining mundane metals and salts isn’t about moving the U.S. toward a renewable energy economy either. It’s about powerful corporate interests finding underhanded ways to circumvent scientific assessments and environmental regulations.

Their goal: big profits for a lucky few.

The ship was found to have been transporting Purbeck stone and marble, a type of dark-colored limestone sourced from southern England that can be polished to give a marble effect.

These qualities made it desirable for decorative use in cathedrals. It was also in high demand for the production of high-status objects such as grave slabs and mortars, examples of which were found in the wreck.

This ship was operating during the 'golden age' of Purbeck Marble, with construction projects such as Westminster Abbey ordering entire shiploads of the stone. It is thought that almost every English ecclesiastical building built between 1170 and 1350 incorporated it.

A computer algorithm has achieved 98% accuracy in predicting different diseases by analyzing the color of the human tongue.

The proposed imaging system developed by Iraqi and Australian researchers can diagnose diabetes, stroke, anemia, asthma, liver and gallbladder conditions, COVID-19, and a range of vascular and gastrointestinal issues.

Could viruses be the good guys? An obscure 100-year-old medical therapy to treat infection enlists viruses called bacteriophages that evolved to target bacteria. Can it help us avoid a post-antibiotic world? This week, it’s “Not Just a Phage” on Big Picture Science.

We’re hurtling towards a post-antibiotic world, as the overuse of antibiotics has given rise to dangerous drug-resistant bacteria. Can we fight back using viruses as weapons? An obscure medical therapy uses certain viruses called bacteriophages to treat infection. For a century attempts to turn phage-therapy into a life-saving treatment have faltered, but today there’s renewed interest in this approach. Can we use phages to forestall the antibiotic crisis?

All told, just shy of 3,000 people in the U.S. have died of West Nile since 1999. But experts warn of the risks of underestimating the virus. Although most infections are asymptomatic, the virus triggers a fever in about 20 percent of people, and a small proportion of cases—about one in 150—are what doctors call “neuroinvasive,” meaning they reach the brain, triggering encephalitis, or the spinal cord, triggering meningitis.

In either scenario, neuroinvasive West Nile can lead to serious consequences. People can develop a stiff neck and devastating headache. “They’ll say it’s the worst headache they’ve had in their entire life.

And because there’s no specialized treatment for the disease, doctors can only treat the symptoms and hope for the best. Many people with a neuroinvasive infection never fully recover.

Our meningitis cases, about 40 percent of them never returned back to their baseline status, and for our encephalitis cases, [that figure] was 80 percent.