Ozonation and catalytic ozonation - Sources of error. What do we need to know?

Due to the increasing contamination of the environment, including water pollution by numerous emerging contaminants, there is a growing interest in advanced water purification/treatment processes. A technique of particular and growing interest over the years is ozonation in its broadest sense. It is a complex process, and its course, both in the version without and with the participation of a catalyst, depends on a number of factors that can affect its efficiency and the correct interpretation of the obtained results.

The toxicological analysis of problematic and sophisticated elements (Ni, Cr, and Se) in Food for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP) using in pharmacotherapy and clinical nutrition for oncological patients available in Polish pharmacies.

This study focuses on FSMPs for oncologic patients, specifically analyzing the toxicological profiles of nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), and selenium (Se) within these products available in Polish pharmacies. The presence of these elements was quantified using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results indicated variations in the concentrations of Ni, Cr, and Se across different FSMP samples, with some products exceeding the acceptable limits set by regulatory guidelines.

The toxicological analysis and safety assessment of heavy metals (Hg, Pb, Cd, and As) in food for special medical purposes (FSMP) available in Polish pharmacies for oncological patients.

The presence of heavy metals in food products may seem an archaic concern; however, our study reveals that the risk is significant, unexpectedly in Food for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP) for oncology patients available in Polish pharmacies. This investigation fills that gap through a detailed toxicological analysis and health risk assessment of these heavy metals in FSMP products (n = 23) using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Our comprehensive risk assessment involved evaluating (1) the concentrations of As, Cd, Hg, and Pb in both liquid and powdered FSMP formulations, (2) the amount of heavy metals ingested per serving as specified by the manufacturer, and (3) the cumulative daily and weekly intake adjusted for body weight, benchmarked against the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI).

Development of a novel LED-IoT photoreactor for enhanced removal of carbamazepine waste driven by solar energy.

This study introduces an innovative LED-IoT photoreactor, representing a significant advancement in response to the demand for sustainable water purification. The integration of LED-IoT installations addresses the challenge of intermittent sunlight availability, employing LEDs with a spectrum mimicking natural sunlight. Passive Infra-Red (PIR) sensors and Internet of things (IoT) technology ensure consistent radiation intensity, with the LED deactivating in ample sunlight and activating in its absence.

The toxicological analysis and assessment of essential elements (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn) in Food for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP) dedicated to oncological patients available in Polish pharmacies.

Foods for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP) for oncology patients, available in pharmacies, play a crucial role in providing nutrition and supplementation. However, the scientific literature lacks comprehensive research on the safety of essential trace elements in these products. This study aimed to assess Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn levels in commonly prescribed FSMPs (n = 23) from Polish pharmacies.

Three musketeers of PDA-based MRI contrasting and therapy.

Polydopamine (PDA) stands as a versatile material explored in cancer nanomedicine for its unique properties, offering opportunities for multifunctional drug delivery platforms. This study explores the potential of utilizing a one-pot synthesis to concurrently integrate Fe, Gd and Mn ions into porous PDA-based theranostic drug delivery platforms called Ferritis, Gadolinis and Manganis, respectively. Our investigation spans the morphology, magnetic properties, photothermal characteristics and cytotoxicity profiles of those potent nanoformulations.

Association of Metallic and Nonmetallic Elements with Fibrin Clot Properties and Ischemic Stroke.

Objectives-Metallic elements and fibrin clot properties have been linked to stroke. We examined metallic and nonmetallic elements, fibrin clot lysis time (CLT), and maximum absorbance (Abs) in relation to ischemic stroke. Design-A case-control study of ischemic stroke patients vs.

Speciation analysis of arsenic in honey using HPLC-ICP-MS and health risk assessment of water-soluble arsenic.

It is well known that arsenic is one of the most toxic elements. However, measuring total arsenic content is not enough, as it occurs in various forms that vary in toxicity. Since honey can be used as a bioindicator of environmental pollution, in the present study the concentration of arsenic and its species (As(III), As(V), DMA, MMA and AsB) was determined in honey samples from mostly Poland and Ukraine using HPLC-ICP-MS hyphenated technique.

Copper(II) phosphate as a promising catalyst for the degradation of ciprofloxacin via photo-assisted Fenton-like process.

This work aims to unravel the potential of copper(II) phosphate as a new promising heterogenous catalyst for the degradation of ciprofloxacin (CIP) in the presence of HO and/or visible light (λ > 400 nm). For this purpose, copper(II) phosphate was prepared by a facile precipitation method and fully characterized. Of our particular interest was the elucidation of the kinetics of CIP degradation on the surface of this heterogeneous catalyst, identification of the main reactive oxygen species responsible for the oxidative degradation of CIP, and the evaluation of the degradation pathways of this model antibiotic pollutant.

Determination of Metal Content by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry in Polish Red and White Wine Samples in Relation to Their Type, Origin, Grape Variety and Health Risk Assessment.

The main objective of the research was to assess the influence of selected factors (type of wine, grape variety, origin, alcohol content and daily consumption) on the concentration levels of 26 elements in 53 Polish wine samples, also using chemometric analysis tools. Concentration of Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Li, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sr, Ti, V, Zn and Zr was analyzed by ICP-MS, while concentration of Ca, Na, K and Mg was determined by ICP-OES. White wines were characterized by higher concentrations of Al, As, Be, Ca, Co, Cu, Fe, Hg, Li, Mg, Na, Pb, Sb, Ti, V, Zn and Zr (mean values: 0.

Sea spray as a secondary source of chlorinated persistent organic pollutants? - Conclusions from a comparison of seven fresh snowfall events in 2019 and 2021.

Secondary sources of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) gain in importance worldwide as primary sources decline. In this work, we aim to determine whether sea spray may be a secondary source of chlorinated POPs to the terrestrial Arctic, since a similar mechanism was proposed there only for the more water-soluble POPs. To this end, we have determined polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides concentrations in fresh snow and seawater collected in the vicinity of the Polish Polar Station in Hornsund in two sampling periods covering spring 2019 and 2021.

Rainwater chemistry composition in Bellsund: Sources of elements and deposition discrepancies in the coastal area (SW Spitsbergen, Svalbard).

Discrepancies in rainfall chemistry in Bellsund were found to be influenced by the orographic barrier and related to the variability in the inflow of air masses as well as to the distance of sampling sites from the sea and thus the extent of sea spray impact. This study covers measurements of rainfall (P) and air temperature (T), physicochemical parameters (pH, specific electrolytic conductivity (SEC), major ions (Cl, NO, SO) and elements (Na, Ca, Mg,K), as well as trace elements (i.a.

Multivariate Statistical Analysis for Mutual Dependence Assessment of Selected Polyphenols, Organic Acids and Metals in Cool-Climate Wines.

Polyphenols, organic acids and metal ions are an important group of compounds that affect the human health and quality of food and beverage products, including wines. It is known that a specific correlation between these groups exist. While wines coming from the New World and the Old World countries are extensively studied, wines coming from cool-climate countries are rarely discussed in the literature.

Phosphate doping as a promising approach to improve reactivity of NbO in catalytic activation of hydrogen peroxide and removal of methylene blue via adsorption and oxidative degradation.

This study is devoted to the evaluation of the influence of phosphate dopants on the reactivity of NbO-based nanomaterials in the combined catalytic activation of HO and the elimination of methylene blue (MB) from an aqueous solution via adsorption and chemical degradation. For this purpose, several niobia-based catalysts doped with various amounts of phosphate were prepared by a facile hydrothermal method and subsequent calcination. Phosphate doping was shown to strongly enhance the ability of NbO to activate HO, as well as to adsorb and degrade MB.

Ferritin-mediated iron detoxification promotes hypothermia survival in Caenorhabditis elegans and murine neurons.

How animals rewire cellular programs to survive cold is a fascinating problem with potential biomedical implications, ranging from emergency medicine to space travel. Studying a hibernation-like response in the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, we uncovered a regulatory axis that enhances the natural resistance of nematodes to severe cold. This axis involves conserved transcription factors, DAF-16/FoxO and PQM-1, which jointly promote cold survival by upregulating FTN-1, a protein related to mammalian ferritin heavy chain (FTH1).

Sex- and Age-Related Dynamic Changes of the Macroelements Content in the Femoral Bone with Hip Osteoarthritis.

Background: The content of macroelements in bones varies with age and depends on sex. The aim of the study was to evaluate the content of macroelements and its correlation with age and sex in the femoral bone obtained during total hip arthroplasty.

Methods: In the 86 patients, the content of macroelements (Ca, P, Mg, and Na) in the femoral head and neck (cancellous and cortical bone) was assessed by means of the inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry analytical technique (ICP-OES).

Removal of Heavy Metal Ions from One- and Two-Component Solutions via Adsorption on N-Doped Activated Carbon.

This paper deals with the adsorption of heavy metal ions (Cu and Zn) on the carbonaceous materials obtained by chemical activation and ammoxidation of Polish brown coal. The effects of phase contact time, initial metal ion concentration, solution pH, and temperature, as well as the presence of competitive ions in solution, on the adsorption capacity of activated carbons were examined. It has been shown that the sample modified by introduction of nitrogen functional groups into carbon structure exhibits a greater ability to uptake heavy metals than unmodified activated carbon.

Retracted: Atomic Absorption Spectrometry Analysis of Trace Elements in Degenerated Intervertebral Disc Tissue.

Medical Science Monitor is retracting the following publication on the basis of duplicated published content. 1) Kubaszewski Ł, Zioła-Frankowska A, Frankowski M, Rogala P, Gasik Z, Kaczmarczyk J, Nowakowski A, Dabrowski M, Labedz W, Miękisiak G, Gasik R. Comparison of trace element concentration in bone and intervertebral disc tissue by atomic absorption spectrometry techniques.

New Method for Simultaneous Arsenic and Selenium Speciation Analysis in Seafood and Onion Samples.

This paper presents a new method for the simultaneous speciation analysis of arsenic (As(III)-arsenite, As(V)-arsenate, DMA-dimethylarsinic acid, MMA-methylarsonic acid, and AsB-arsenobetaine) and selenium (Se(IV)-selenite, Se(VI)-selenate, Se-Methionine, and Se-Cystine), which was applied to a variety of seafood and onion samples. The determination of the forms of arsenic and selenium was undertaken using the High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS) analytical technique. The separation of both organic and inorganic forms of arsenic and selenium was performed using two analytical columns: an anion exchange column, Dionex IonPac AS22, containing an alkanol quaternary ammonium ion, and a double bed cation-anion exchange guard column, Dionex Ion Pac CG5A, containing, as a first layer, fully sulfonated latex for cation exchange and a fully aminated layer for anion exchange as the second layer.

B Vitamins Prevent Iron-Associated Brain Atrophy and Domain-Specific Effects of Iron, Copper, Aluminum, and Silicon on Cognition in Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Background:: Metals, silicon, and homocysteine are linked to Alzheimer’s disease. B vitamin therapy lowers homocysteine and slows brain atrophy and cognitive decline in mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Objective:: Examine metals and silicon as predictors of cognition/brain atrophy in MCI, their interaction with homocysteine and cysteine, and how B vitamins affect these relationships.

Impact of the oxidative and enzymatic metals in degenerated intervertebral disc disease.

Introduction: The degenerative process of the intervertebral disc is a heterogeneous process that may exist in two forms, and involves dominant degenerative changes within the nucleus pulposus and the annulus fibrosus. In degenerative disc disease, the oxidative stress factor can play an important role.

Objective: The aim of research was to present a new approach to understanding the role of the analyzed elements in the process of degeneration of the intervertebral disc.

Sources and composition of chemical pollution in Maritime Antarctica (King George Island), part 2: Organic and inorganic chemicals in snow cover at the Warszawa Icefield.

The study area is located on King George Island, where 90% of the area is permanently glaciated. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the inorganic and organic chemistry of snow cover in the icefield and a comparison against previous results obtained in fresh water. Snow samples were collected in the summer of 2017 in the Warszawa Icefield area.

The Role of Sulphate and Phosphate Ions in the Recovery of Benzoic Acid Self-Enhanced Ozonation in Water Containing Bromides.

The ozonation of aromatic compounds in low-pH water is ineffective. In an acidic environment, the decomposition of ozone into hydroxyl radicals is limited and insufficient for the degradation of organic pollutants. Radical processes are also strongly inhibited by halogen ions present in the reaction medium, especially at low pH.

The influence of active carbon contaminants on the ozonation mechanism interpretation.

In water treatment technology, activated carbons are used primarily as sorbents to remove organic impurities, mainly natural organic matter, but also as catalysts in the ozonation process. Commercially available activated carbons are usually contaminated with mineral substances, classified into two main groups: alkali metals (Ca, Na, K, Li, Mg) and multivalent metals (Al, Fe, Ti, Si). The presence of impurities on the carbon surface significantly affects the pH values determined for raw and ozonated carbon as well as their acidity and alkalinity.

Paraoxonase 1, B Vitamins Supplementation, and Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Background: Identification of modifiable risk factors that affect cognitive decline is important for the development of preventive and treatment strategies. Status of paraoxonase 1 (PON1), a high-density lipoprotein-associated enzyme, may play a role in the development of neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's disease.

Objective: We tested a hypothesis that PON1 status predicts cognition in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).