Publications by authors named "R P Handy"

Currently for engineered nanomaterials (ENMs), there are no alternatives to bioaccumulation testing in fish as prescribed by OECD TG 305. New approaches are being sought, in order to reduce the numbers of animals used and address the ethical concerns associated with the use of vertebrates in such testing. This study aimed to demonstrate the value of an alternative method - the digestibility assay - as a tool to assess the bioaccumulation potential of ENMs.

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Biobased plastics are sometimes promoted as "environmentally friendly" compared to their conventional petrochemical-based counterparts, but their ecotoxicity is only partially understood. Biobased fibers are widely used in clothing and wet wipes and can accumulate in soils through the application of biosolid fertilizers. This study examined the lethal thresholds and sublethal toxicity of chemically characterized, additive-free, biobased (viscose and lyocell) compared to petrochemical-based (polyester) fibers on the key ecosystem engineer, .

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Unlabelled: the controlled release of silver as a biocide from Ag-coated medical implants is desirable. However, the biocompatibility of Ag leachates is poorly understood. This study investigated the toxicity of silver released from the silver plated titanium implants to human primary osteoblast cells; and the effect of cell culture medium on the silver speciation and bioavailability.

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Article Synopsis
  • Insect cell lines, specifically Sf21 cells, are being explored for their potential in ecotoxicity testing, which hasn’t received much focus compared to other applications.
  • The study demonstrated that Sf21 cells are sensitive to the fungicides Propiconazole and CuSO, with significant effects noted at specific concentrations, indicating their potential as an acute toxicity testing tool.
  • The findings showed that a 0.5% concentration of the solvent DMSO did not negatively impact cell viability, suggesting that Sf21 cells can be effectively used in toxicological assessments.
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Exposure to metal(loid)s can cause adverse health effects. This study evaluated the concentrations of aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury, nickel, and lead in particulate matter <10 μm (PM) and in the urine of 100 participants from urban residential areas in Iran. A total of 100 residential buildings (one adult from each household) in six cities across Iran were recruited for this study.

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