Competitive Adsorption of Cd(II), Cr(VI), and Pb(II) onto Nanomaghemite: A Spectroscopic and Modeling Approach.

A combined modeling and spectroscopic approach is used to describe Cd(II), Cr(VI), and Pb(II) adsorption onto nanomaghemite and nanomaghemite coated quartz. A pseudo-second order kinetic model fitted the adsorption data well. The sorption capacity of nanomaghemite was evaluated using a Langmuir isotherm model, and a diffuse double layer surface complexation model (DLM) was developed to describe metal adsorption.

Tetrabromobisphenol A has immunosuppressive effects on human natural killer cells.

Human natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes that destroy tumor cells, virally-infected cells, and antibody-coated cells. Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is used both as a reactive and as an additive flame retardant in a variety of materials and appears to contaminate the environment. TBBPA has been found in human blood samples and if it interferes with NK cell function, this could increase the risk of tumor development and/or viral infection.