The concentration of iron in real-world geogenic PM₁₀ is associated with increased inflammation and deficits in lung function in mice.

Background: There are many communities around the world that are exposed to high levels of particulate matter <10 µm (PM₁₀) of geogenic (earth derived) origin. Mineral dusts in the occupational setting are associated with poor lung health, however very little is known about the impact of heterogeneous community derived particles. We have preliminary evidence to suggest that the concentration of iron (Fe) may be associated with the lung inflammatory response to geogenic PM₁₀.

Variability and consistency in lung inflammatory responses to particles with a geogenic origin.

Background And Objective: Particulate matter <10 μm (PM10 ) is well recognized as being an important driver of respiratory health; however, the impact of PM10 of geogenic origin on inflammatory responses in the lung is poorly understood. This study aimed to assess the lung inflammatory response to community sampled geogenic PM10 .

Methods: This was achieved by collecting earth material from two regional communities in Western Australia (Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Newman), extracting the PM10 fraction and exposing mice by intranasal instillation to these particles.

Extracting dust from soil: Improved efficiency of a previously published process.

A previously published procedure describing how to simply and cheaply extract a sufficient quantity of dust particles sized smaller than 10μm (PM(10)) from soil to be used in air quality analysis has been modified and improved. These modifications are described in detail and are significant because they will enable extraction of a greater quantity of the PM(10) fraction for a given soil sample, in less time and without the need for building specialised equipment. Less water is also used in the modified procedure, and thus a smaller risk of dissolution of metals of interest.

Acid sulfate soils and human health--a Millennium Ecosystem Assessment.

Acid sulfate soils have been described as the "nastiest soils on earth" because of their strong acidity, increased mobility of potentially toxic elements and limited bioavailability of nutrients. They only cover a small area of the world's total problem soils, but often have significant adverse effects on agriculture, aquaculture and the environment on a local scale. Their location often coincides with high population density areas along the coasts of many developing countries.

Functional identity of the active sites of crustacean and viral thymidylate synthases.

Thymidylate synthase (TS) catalyzes the synthesis of deoxythymidine monophosphate (dTMP), which is an essential precursor for DNA synthesis. The rationale underlying drug design is to identify compounds that differentially inhibit a viral or parasite enzyme vs. the host homologue.