Publications by authors named "J F Ober"

Article Synopsis
  • Silica, titanium dioxide, and zinc oxide nanoparticles are commonly found in skin products, but their potential to cause skin sensitization, especially when combined with other sensitizers, is not well understood.
  • This study utilized various cellular assays to explore how these nanoparticles affect skin cells, focusing on keratinocytes and dendritic cells, both alone and in co-cultures.
  • Results showed that the effects of nanoparticles vary significantly depending on the cell type and their interactions, indicating that exposure to these NPs can enhance the skin's reaction to known sensitizers.
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Despite the growing concerns about pesticide pollution, a comprehensive global understanding continues to be hampered by a lack of data from less developed countries. Ethiopia, being a typical agricultural country, is one of the top consumers of pesticides in sub-Saharan Africa. This study conducted a nationwide analysis to assess pesticide water pollution and human health risks in Ethiopia based on the available data.

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The ambitious sustainable development goal (SDG) 6 of the United Nations, which aims to achieve universal access to safe water and sanitation by 2030, remains elusive for many developing countries like Ethiopia. This is often due to a multitude of intricate factors, including the escalating degradation of water quality. Here, we present a comprehensive nationwide and regional analysis of heavy metal pollution in drinking water sources and the associated human health risks in Ethiopia based on a dataset of 11 heavy metal concentrations (n = 975) collated from available studies.

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Despite the global ban on organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) since the 1970s, their use continues in many developing countries, including Ethiopia, primarily due to the lack of viable alternatives and weak regulations. Nonetheless, the extent of contamination and the resulting environmental and health consequences in these countries remain inadequately understood. To address these knowledge gaps, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of reported concentrations (n=398) of OCPs (n=30) in distinct yet interconnected water matrices: water, sediment, and biota in Ethiopia.

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