Source identification and exposure risk management for soil arsenic in urban reclamation areas with high background levels: A case study in a coastal reclamation site from the Pearl River Delta, China. | LitMetric
Urbanization involving the excavation and reuse of arsenic-bearing geological materials may pose human health risks. We investigated the distribution and sources of soil arsenic at a coastal reclamation site in the Pearl River Delta, China, and proposed risk management strategies. Analysis of 899 soil samples revealed an average of 58.97 mg/kg arsenic, with a maximum of 1450 mg/kg, mainly in fill material obtained from a local island. Integrative analysis combining reclamation history, regional geology, and bedrock mineralogy conclusively identified hydrothermally altered arsenic-bearing sulfide minerals within extensively fractured bedrock as the primary source of arsenic. Physical weathering and anthropogenic rock blasting produced discrete arsenic-rich particles that were directly transported into soils during land reclamation and accumulated to potential hazardous levels. Oral, dermal, and inhalation pathways were identified as primary exposures for future populations. Integrated engineering and institutional controls, coupled with long-term monitoring, were recommended to mitigate risks. The results highlight the importance of identifying specific geogenic and anthropogenic sources that contribute to heavy metal enrichment of soils in reclaimed areas where native bedrock naturally contains elevated level of metals, supporting evidence-based best practices for risk management and future land use.
Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global economies, social structures, and public health systems. However, Denmark stood out as an exception, maintaining steady life expectancy during this period. This raises important questions about the factors that strengthened the Danish healthcare system and society against the pandemic's challenges.
Background: The factors influencing nurses' knowledge of delirium in acute care settings have not been fully investigated in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate these factors among nurses in acute care settings in the northern region of Saudi Arabia.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a convenience sample of 234 acute care nurses at the main public hospitals in the Hail region of Saudi Arabia.
Aims: Cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) ablation is the current ablation treatment for typical atrial flutter (AFL). However, post-ablation atrial tachyarrhythmias, mostly in the form of atrial fibrillation (AF), are frequently observed after CTI ablation. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of concomitant or isolated pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in patients with typical AFL scheduled for ablation.
Purpose: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disorder affecting almost 2.8 million people globally, approximately 80-85% of whom have the relapsing-remitting form of the disease (RRMS). There are several autoinjectors available for the administration of injectable disease-modifying therapies for the treatment of MS.
Segmental thoracic spinal anesthesia (STSA) is emerging as a promising alternative for high-risk patients undergoing abdominal surgeries, particularly those who are not optimal candidates for general anesthesia (GA). By selectively targeting the thoracic spinal segments responsible for abdominal innervation, STSA aims to provide precise anesthesia and pain management while minimizing systemic side effects. This case series presents the outcomes of several critical patients who underwent abdominal surgeries under STSA.
