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AbstractIntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussionConclusionsEthion is an organophosphate used as an acaricide and insecticide, that is restricted worldwide. In Colombia, pesticide poisoning is the third most common cause of chemical intoxication. On 9 October 2022, an outbreak of ethion poisoning occurred in Pereira. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the outbreak.This is a descriptive study of an outbreak of organophosphate poisoning. The onset of symptoms occurred on 9 October 2022, following the consumption of empanadas. Information was collected on sociodemographic characteristics and clinical manifestations, as well as from paraclinical examinations. Data were obtained from clinical histories, field epidemiological investigations, and inspection visits. Food samples were collected for analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Attack rates, proportions, and measures of central tendency, dispersion, and position were calculated.The case definition was met by 37 individuals with a median age of 30 years; all presented with muscarinic symptoms, 29 patients presented with nicotinic symptoms, and 20 patients presented with neurological symptoms. Males were the most affected (57%), and the most common time of symptom onset was 10:00 am. Twenty-three patients (62%) required intensive care unit admission, of whom 14 (38%) required mechanical ventilation. No deaths were reported. Erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase activity was reduced in all patients. Ethion was detected in mass-prepared maize and empanadas at concentrations greater than 0.1 mg/kg. The consumption of empanadas was identified as the common source.In Colombia, pesticide poisonings are the third most common type of poisoning caused by chemical substances reported to the National Health Institute through the National Public Health Surveillance System. In the present outbreak, ethion was in empanadas, likely due to contamination of cooking oil.We describe a large ethion-contaminated food poisoning outbreak reported in Colombia. The main symptoms were muscarinic, and the main treatment measures employed were atropine and respiratory support. Increased awareness of pesticide poisoning and training for food handlers are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxygen (O2), nitric oxide (NO), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and hydrogen (H2) with direct effects, and carbon dioxide (CO2) with complementary effects on the condition of various diseases are known as therapeutic gases. The targeted delivery and in situ generation of these therapeutic gases with controllable release at the site of disease has attracted attention to avoid the risk of gas poisoning and improve their performance in treating various diseases such as cancer therapy, cardiovascular therapy, bone tissue engineering, and wound healing. Stimuli‐responsive gas‐generating sources and delivery systems based on biomaterials that enable on‐demand and controllable release are promising approaches for precise gas therapy. This work highlights current advances in the design and development of new approaches and systems to generate and deliver therapeutic gases at the site of disease with on‐demand release behavior. The performance of the delivered gases in various biomedical applications is then discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxic heavy gas leakage in enclosed workplaces can result in severe safety accidents. Reasonable estimations of toxic heavy gas leakage and its subsequent concentration distribution are crucial for disaster assessment and emergency response. This study combines a three-dimensional (3D) gas dispersion model developed based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) with the iterative ensemble Kalman filter (IEnKF) algorithm for accurate estimation of heavy gas leakage source parameters and detailed prediction of concentration distributions, with a case study of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) leakage. The inversions of two uncertain parameters are considered: H2S leakage velocity and air supply velocity. The results show that the 3D CFD-based gas dispersion model can work well with the robust IEnKF algorithm to predict the spatiotemporal concentration distribution of heavy gas with high confidence. Moreover, the multiple correction procedures performed in the IEnKF module can greatly improve the efficiency and accuracy of parameter estimations compared to the single correction of the EnKF algorithm. When the maximum number of iterations is set to ten, the assimilation time steps required to achieve satisfactory estimations of uncertain parameters are reduced by 86.67%; the accuracy of H2S leakage velocity and air supply velocity estimation is improved by 10.59% and 46.25%, respectively. In addition, after 13 assimilation time steps, the estimated H2S leakage velocity (17.2 m/s) is almost equal to the assumed true value (17 m/s). This study provides a novel approach to assess the impact of poisonous dense gas leakage in enclosed workplaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, titled "Carbon Monoxide: An Ancient Silent Enemy," provides a historical and contemporary perspective on the impact of carbon monoxide (CO) on humans. It discusses various incidents throughout history where CO poisoning occurred, including the deaths of crew members on Arctic expeditions and the dangers of coal gas in the 19th century. The article also explores the toxic effects of CO on the body and the symptoms of chronic CO poisoning. It concludes by emphasizing the ongoing threat of CO poisoning and the importance of detection and prevention. [Extracted from the article]

Industrialization and agricultural demand have both improved human life and led to environmental contamination. Especially the discharge of a lot of poisonous and harmful gases, including ammonia, ammonia pollution has become a pressing problem. High concentrations of ammonia can pose significant threats to both the environment and human health. Therefore, accurate monitoring and detection of ammonia gas are crucial. To address this challenge, we have developed an ammonia gas sensor using In(OH)3/Ti3C2Tx nanocomposites through an in-situ electrostatic self-assembly process. This sensor was thoroughly characterized using advanced techniques like XRD, XPS, BET, and TEM. In our tests, the I/M-2 sensor exhibited remarkable performance, achieving a 16.8% response to 100 ppm NH3 at room temperature, which is a 3.5-fold improvement over the pure Ti3C2Tx MXene sensor. Moreover, it provides swift response time (20 s), high response to low NH3 concentrations (≤ 10 ppm), and excellent long-term stability (30 days). These exceptional characteristics indicate the immense potential of our In(OH)3/Ti3C2Tx gas sensor in ammonia detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The article explores historical and literary aspects of Kareem Ketafa's novel The Spider's Siege. It provides a plot summary and situates the novel within its historical context of Anfal 8 campaign in the Bahdinan region of Iraqi Kurdistan, where the communist partisans joined thousands of fugitive villagers who climbed Mount Gara for refuge from the army and its use of chemical weapons. The article discusses the novelist's literary techniques and his use of literary devices. The structure of the novel, the article tries to demonstrate, is that of a web with parallel threads. The article also discusses the tension between narration and documentation which characterizes the novel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging tobacco products such as electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and heated tobacco products (HTPs) have a dynamic landscape and are becoming widely popular as they claim to offer a low-risk alternative to conventional smoking. Most pre-clinical laboratories currently exploit in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo experimental models to assess toxicological outcomes as well as to develop risk-estimation models. While most laboratories have produced a wide range of cell culture and mouse model data utilizing current smoke/aerosol generators and standardized puffing profiles, much variation still exists between research studies, hindering the generation of usable data appropriate for the standardization of these tobacco products. In this review, we discuss current state-of-the-art in vitro and in vivo models and their challenges, as well as insights into risk estimation of novel products and recommendations for toxicological parameters for reporting, allowing comparability of the research studies between laboratories, resulting in usable data for regulation of these products before approval by regulatory authorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), as well as their sulfur (S-PAHs), oxygen (O-PAHs), and nitrogen (N-PAHs) analogs were evaluated in the fumes of asphalt samples produced in Brazilian refineries. The fumes were generated using a laboratory-constructed device for extraction and collection (DEC). Two previously published methodologies for PAHs and S-PAHs evaluation by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) were employed, together with a new methodology for O and N-PAHs. A total of 54 compounds were assessed. The samples included 31 compounds within the scope of this study, and the emissions were highly dependent upon the heating temperature and asphalt source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the use of SrAl2O4: Eu2+, Dy3+ long-afterglow materials doped into g-C3N4/TiO2 coatings for photodegradation. The prepared sample was tested for the purification of automotive exhaust fumes, with the optimal mass ratio of g-C3N4/TiO2 and SrAl2O4: Eu2+, Dy3+ determined to be 1:1. Characterization tests, including XRD, FT-IR, XPS, and TG-DSC, were conducted to evaluate the microstructure and properties of the samples. Under poor lighting conditions, g-C3N4/TiO2 reduced CH and NOx by 59 ppm and 13 ppm within 4 h, respectively, while g-C3N4/TiO2/SrAl2O4: Eu2+, Dy3+ decreased CH and NOx by 98ppm and 34ppm, respectively, resulting in a significant improvement in degradation efficiency. The addition of long-afterglow materials significantly improves the efficiency of photocatalysts in purifying exhaust fumes in low-light environments, providing potential value for all-weather exhaust treatment in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aerotoxic Syndrome may develop as a result of chronic, low-level exposure to organophosphates (OPs) and volatile organic compounds in the airplane cabin air, caused by engine oil leaking past wet seals. Additionally, acute high-level exposures, so-called "fume events," may occur. However, air quality monitoring studies concluded that levels of inhaled chemicals might be too low to cause adverse effects. The presence of aerosols of nanoparticles (NPs) in bleed air has often been described. The specific hypothesis is a relation between NPs acting as a vector for toxic compounds in the etiology of the Aerotoxic Syndrome. These NPs function as carriers for toxic engine oil compounds leaking into the cabin air. Inhaled by aircrew NPs carrying soluble and insoluble components deposit in the alveolar region, where they are absorbed into the bloodstream. Subsequently, they may cross the blood-brain barrier and release their toxic compounds in the central nervous system. Olfactory absorption is another route for NPs with access to the brain. To study the hypothesis, all published in-flight measurement studies (2003–2023) of airborne volatile (and low-volatile) organic pollutants in cabin air were reviewed, including NPs (10–100 nm). Twelve studies providing data for a total of 387 flights in 16 different large-passenger jet aircraft types were selected. Maximum particle number concentrations (PNC) varied from 104 to 2.8 × 106 #/cm3 and maximum mass concentrations from 9 to 29 μg/m3. NP-peaks occurred after full-power take-off, in tailwind condition, after auxiliary power unit (APU) bleed air introduction, and after air conditioning pack failure. Chemical characterization of the NPs showed aliphatic hydrocarbons, black carbon, and metallic core particles. An aerosol mass-spectrometry pattern was consistent with aircraft engine oil. It is concluded that chronic exposure of aircrew to NP-aerosols, carrying oil derivatives, maybe a significant feature in the etiology of Aerotoxic Syndrome. Mobile NP measuring equipment should be made available in the cockpit for long-term monitoring of bleed air. Consequently, risk assessment of bleed air should include monitoring and analysis of NPs, studied in a prospective cohort design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZrCo alloy is easily poisoned by impurity gases such as O2, CO, and CO2, resulting in a deterioration in hydrogen storage performance. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive investigation into the adsorption and dissociation characteristics of oxygen on the ZrCo(110) surface using first-principles calculations. Previous studies indicated that the anti-disproportionation properties of ZrCo alloy can be significantly improved by Hf substitution, but the effect of Hf doping on the anti-poisoning properties has not been reported. We also examined the effect of Hf doping on the adsorption, dissociation, and diffusion characteristics of oxygen. It is found that on the ZrCo(110) surface, O2 molecules are easily dissociated and then stably adsorbed at the hollow site. Oxygen atoms will fill the surface preferentially and then diffuse inward. The doping of Hf has an insignificant impact on the adsorption or dissociation behavior of oxygen in comparison to the pure ZrCo surface. However, a notable observation is that the doping of Hf resulted in a reduction in the diffusion barrier for oxygen from the surface to the subsurface by 0.61 eV. Consequently, our study suggests that doping Hf is not an advisable strategy for improving the ZrCo(110) surface's resistance to O2 poisoning because of improved oxygen permeability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have indicated that hydratable magnesium carboxylate (HMC) exhibits potential as an MgO‐based binder, but its limited medium‐temperature strength has hindered its widespread industrial application. In this study, the incorporation of MgO fumes into castables is intended to react with microsilica to form magnesium–silicate–hydrate (M–S–H), and the synergistic effect of HMC and M–S–H is anticipated to improve the mechanical properties of castables at intermediate temperatures. The effects of MgO fumes on the properties of HMC‐bonded castables were comprehensively investigated. The results demonstrate that incorporating MgO fumes into castable serves multiple functions. The ionized MgOH+ from MgO fumes hinders the hydration process of HMC, prolonging the final setting time from 13 to 98 min and improving the workability of castables. The incorporation of MC‐1100 enhanced mechanical properties at medium temperature due to the synergistic effects of brucite, HMC, and M–S–H. Specifically, the CMOR increased 20% after sintering at 800°C. Furthermore, adding MC‐1100 increases the residual strength rate of castable by 10% compared to those without MgO fumes. This can be attributed to enhanced spinel formation resulting from adding MgO fumes that improves elastic modulus and reduces elastic strain energy generation during thermal shock, thus increasing crack propagation resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the coexistence of CO and H2S in reformed hydrogen, studies on the interaction between impurities are lacking. In this study, the co‐poisoning effect of CO and H2S on a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is systematically investigated using a hydrogen reference electrode inserted into a membrane electrode assembly (MEA). Notably, when CO and H2S are present simultaneously, the poisoning rate is accelerated and is higher than the simple sum of the poisoning by the individual gases, suggesting a complex synergic effect between the two gases. This phenomenon can be attributed to the potential‐dependent behavior of H2S poisoning, whereas CO poisoning remains independent of the potential but depends on the total poisoning time. Therefore, the potential of the anode rises over time due to the time‐dependent CO poisoning, which accelerates the potential‐dependent H2S poisoning. As a result, the cell voltage decreases more rapidly in the CO and H2S mixture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post‐blast fumes are hazardous and known to cause severe health related issues of workers. Further, these harmful gases have a significant impact on the surrounding environment. Thus, it is imperative to have an in‐depth understanding of the real time detonation fume generation in underground space to avoid hazardous health risk of the worker. In this context, the mapping of toxic fume concentrations generated by the detonation of ANFO explosives in the actual field is a fascinating area of research that has a great environmental impact. This article examined the real‐time analysis of toxic fumes generated by ammonium nitrate fuel oil (ANFO) explosives at various locations of a metalliferous underground mine. Furthermore, detonation parameters of various ANFO explosive compositions were also studied at the mining site. On‐site blasting studies were performed with ANFO explosives, and post‐detonation fume measurements enabled us to map the CO and NOx concentrations in underground spaces. Toxic fumes like CO and NOx were analyzed before and after each blasting operation at different intervals, and found within the allowed limit as per the Directorate General of Mines Safety guidelines. Additionally, an empirical correlation has been established to evaluate the maximum detonation velocity based on the alteration of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Western Australia, the issue of bushfires (wildfires) poses a persistent health risk to both volunteer and career forestry firefighters, populations that have been historically understudied. Aims: This descriptive qualitative study aimed to examine firefighters' level of understanding concerning hazardous exposures, their Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) protocols and their decontamination practices. Methods: Guided by the socioecological model, 23 semi-structured interviews were conducted with firefighters representing both volunteer and forestry sectors. Key results: Results indicate a gap in knowledge regarding the health risks associated with bushfire-generated smoke and contaminants among volunteer firefighters. Forestry firefighters, conversely, showed a greater awareness of these risks. Social dynamics, such as peer pressure, were identified as historical deterrents to PPE use, although recent trends indicate positive change. Forestry firefighters also highlighted systemic shortcomings, including inadequate provision of respiratory protection and lack of decontamination facilities for cleaning themselves and their PPE. Conclusion: This study underscores the critical need for educational initiatives to address these gaps in understanding, along with organisational reforms to promote a culture encouraging PPE use and to provide essential resources for effective decontamination. Implications: This research emphasises that a multi-level approach is essential for safeguarding the health of firefighters in bushfire-prone environments. Volunteer firefighters in Western Australia have a significant knowledge gap about of bushfire smoke health risks and protection. Forestry firefighters are more informed but still face issues like inadequate respiratory protection and lack of decontamination facilities. Better education and essential resources are crucial to improving safety for all firefighters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most common pesticide agents are organophosphates and phosphides, aluminum phosphide (ALP) in particular. ALP is a major cause of suicidal poisoning in many countries. In other countries, the problem of accidental, mainly occupational-related, poisoning is also real and actual. Almost two thirds of individuals in poisoning cases have died. This case report describes a case of a patient with accidental ALP intoxication. The origin of the poisoning was the fumigation of stored grain in an agricultural building adjacent to the building in which patient was temporarily housed, while both buildings were connected by an underground corridor, through which the released poison gas penetrated. The case was originally presented by the rescuers as well as healthcare professionals of the local hospital as carbon monoxide intoxication, which has a similar symptomatology as ALP intoxication. The patient was treated comprehensively, including using the HBOT method, which is very unique in the case of phosphine intoxication in human medicine, with an excellent final clinical outcome. This was the first described case of HBOT for ALP intoxication in clinical medicine, although the HBOT indication itself became a coincidence in this case. Further studies must be undertaken to demonstrate the effectiveness of HBOT in treating patients with ALP poisoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial fume emissions are a major contributor to global warming, and accurate monitoring is necessary. However, current segmentation techniques for video monitoring of industrial fumes are limited by ineffective edge segmentation, lack of consideration of dynamic characteristics, and poor segmentation accuracy. To address these issues, a deep learning-based semantic video segmentation network is proposed in this paper. The network combines fume deformation information, employs LR-ASPP design for real-time performance, and spatio-temporal consistency to enhance semantic information in the dynamic region. A residual hybrid attention network is constructed for the motion region to minimize loss of motion information. The proposed network demonstrates strong anti-interference capability in complex environments, achieving over 10% improvement in IoU and F -score under a high-speed segmentation of 53 FPS. This technology can be integrated with automated systems to enable timely responses to hazardous situations, minimizing risks to workers and nearby communities. In summary, the proposed deep learning-based semantic video segmentation network has significant implications for improving environmental monitoring and management practices in industrial settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy production and energy storage materials are highly in demand due to their versatility, stability, sustainability, and better conductivity. Low-cost and highly efficient electrode materials (cathode/anode) for electrochemical supercapacitors (SCs) have been highly explored in the last two decades. Herein, we have synthesized Mo 2 C via a facile, cost-efficient, and green approach (ball milling). This work provides a new route to synthesize Mo 2 C, as compared with traditional techniques, to reduce the emission of poisonous gases at high temperatures. Furthermore, a comparison of the electrochemical performance of the bulk and nanostructured Mo 2 C was also investigated. The obtained results proved that smaller particle sizes and higher surface area are the efficient edges for the competitive performance of nanostructured Mo 2 C. Electron impedance spectroscopy (EIS), galvanostatic charge/discharge (GCD), and cyclic voltammetry (CV) were used to assess the electrochemical performance of bulk and nanostructured Mo 2 C. Nanostructured Mo 2 C has delivered 206 F/g at a current density of 0.1 A/g in 3M-KOH electrolyte. Nanostructured Mo 2 C has shown ultra-long cyclic stability after 20000th GCD cycles with 92 % retention with 100 % Coulombic efficiency. These results predicted that nanostructured Mo 2 C is a good electrode material for supercapacitors. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of a natural gas leak within a household carries the potential for fires and poses a risk of natural gas poisoning. Similar to how we approach other hazardous energy sources such as electricity and gasoline, it is crucial to exercise caution when dealing with natural gas exposure. To prevent potential hazards and dangerous situation, identified a smart gas detection system for rapid and accurate detection of gas leaks. The proposed gas leakage detection system combines advanced sensor technology, real-time monitoring, and automated alert mechanisms to ensure timely identification and response to gas leaks. The MQ2 sensor helps in detection of gas leakage. The MQ2 sensor possesses the capability to detect a wide range of gases, including methane, propane, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen. This versatility makes it an invaluable tool in ensuring safety and protecting against potential hazards and early identification of gas leaks. The collected data is analyzed using sophisticated algorithms to distinguish between normal background gas levels and potential leaks. NodeMCU, equipped with its Wi-Fi capabilities, functions as the central control unit of the system. The NodeMCU gathers real-time data from the gas sensors, constantly monitoring gas levels. It processes this data and sends it to the cloud or a central server using its internet connection. The system's ability to monitor in real-time ensures that any gas leaks detected are quickly reported to the relevant personnel or authorities through automated alerts. The fast notification system allows for quick actions, reducing the risks of accidents, saving lives, preventing property damage, and mitigating harm to the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dioxide is a suffocating gas resulting either from industrial activities from combustion or explosion. There may also be carbon dioxide deposits under pressure, quartered in porous geological formations. This gas can show slow or violent releases with accumulation at ground level. Carbon dioxide is a gas that is both toxic and asphyxiating. This gas can accumulate in closed spaces and when it exceeds the concentration of 12% vol. it becomes lethal. For the protection of working personnel, it is necessary to identify and apply the most effective preventive measures. This requires an understanding of carbon dioxide's behaviour during the build-up phase. The research gives a CFD analysis for determining the dynamics of carbon dioxide dispersion in a confined enclosure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human society is in full development. Proportionately, the industrial activity continuously develops and diversifies. Various technological processes also bring with them specific risks such as the one generated by the presence of carbon dioxide in closed premises. The effect of this gas on the human body is destructive and can reach situations incompatible with life. Preventive measures presuppose a good knowledge of how this gas disperses. This paper details the experimentation carried out to identify how carbon dioxide disperses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The effect marker club cell protein (CC16) is secreted by the epithelium of the small respiratory tract into its lumen and passes into the blood. Increased amounts of CC16 in serum are observed during acute epithelial lung injury due to air pollutants. CC16 in serum was determined as part of this cross-sectional study in underground potash miners on acute and chronic health effects from exposures to diesel exhaust and blasting fumes. Methods: Nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and diesel particulate matter were measured in 672 workers at a German potash mining site on a person-by-person basis over an early shift or midday shift, together with CC16 serum concentrations before and after the respective shift. CC16 concentrations and CC16 shift-differences were evaluated with respect to personal exposure measurements and other quantitative variables by Spearman rank correlation coefficients. CC16 shift-differences were modeled using multiple linear regression. Above-ground workers as reference group were compared to the exposed underground workers. Results: Serum concentrations of CC16 were influenced by personal characteristics such as age, smoking status, and renal function. Moreover, they showed a circadian rhythm. While no statistically significant effects of work-related exposure on CC16 concentrations were seen in never smokers, such effects were evident in current smokers. Conclusion: The small airways of current smokers appeared to be vulnerable to the combination of measured work-related exposures and individual exposure to smoking. Therefore, as health protection of smokers exposed to diesel exhaust and blasting fumes, smoking cessation is strongly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Environmental particulate matter (PM) exposure has been shown to cause excess all-cause and disease-specific mortality. Our aim was to compare disease-specific mortality by estimated occupational exposure to vapors, gasses, dusts, and fumes (VGDF). Methods: The data source is the Helsinki part of the population-based FinEsS study on chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases including information on age, education level, main occupation, sex, and tobacco smoking combined with death registry information. We compared estimated VGDF exposure to mortality using adjusted competing-risks regression for disease-specific survival analysis for a 24-year follow-up. Results: Compared to the no-exposure group, the high occupational VGDF exposure group had sub-hazard ratios (sHR) of 1.7 (95% CI 1.3–2.2) for all cardiovascular-related and sHR 2.1 (1.5–3.9) for just coronary artery-related mortality. It also had sHR 1.7 (1.0–2.8) for Alzheimer's or vascular dementia-related mortality and sHR 1.7(1.2–2.4) for all respiratory disease-related mortality. Conclusion: Long-term occupational exposure to VGDF increased the hazard of mortality- to cardiovascular-, respiratory-, and dementia-related causes. This emphasizes the need for minimizing occupational long-term respiratory exposure to dust, gasses, and fumes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imidazole ionic liquids (ILs) have broad application prospects in batteries and other fields. Researching the thermal decomposition features of ILs holds paramount importance for the application in battery electrolyte. 1-allyl-3-methylimidazole nitrate ionic liquid (IL) as a new functional IL, and its related thermal decomposition properties are unknown. In this paper, the thermal decomposition peculiarities of 1-allyl-3-methylimidazole nitrate IL were systematically analyzed by thermogravimetric analyzer, differential scanning calorimetry, and accelerating rate calorimeter techniques, and the relevant thermodynamic parameters and thermal decomposition models were derived. In addition, 1-allyl-3-methylimidazole nitrate IL possesses strong thermal runaway characteristics and the risk of thermal runaway is also evaluated. The main gaseous products formed by the pyrolysis of 1-allyl-3-methylimidazole nitrate IL was detected and analyzed by thermogravimetry-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric-photoionization mass spectrometry techniques. The results showed that flammable gas, toxic gas, and asphyxiating gas are formed during the pyrolysis of 1-allyl-3-methylimidazole nitrate IL. This study lays a theoretical foundation for the safe application and the formulation of corresponding safety protection measures of 1-allyl-3-methylimidazole nitrate IL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deactivation of catalyst for the oxidation of carbon monoxide in the impurity gases such as CO2, SO2, and NOx are common issues in practical use. In this work, Cu–Mn–Ce composite oxide catalysts (CMCO) were coupled with K2CO3 (KC) to inhibit the poisoning effect of these gases. The CMCO/KC composite catalysts, prepared by multi-step impregnation method, were tested for CO catalytic oxidation and CO2 chemical absorption in the presence of SO2 (0.004% and 0.04%) or NO2 (0.0025% and 0.025%), and further characterized by XRD and XPS. The results showed that CMCO/KC could catalyze CO efficiently at low temperatures, and proper K2CO3 addition (10–50 wt%) could even promote CMCO catalytic activity owing to the CO2 sorption. Among them, CMCO/50KC showed the highest CO catalytic performance with the T50 of 114.5 °C. More importantly, K2CO3 doping treatment could reduce or eliminate the catalyst deactivation caused by SO2 and NO2, due to the competitive sorption reaction of the alkali toward the acid gases. Further regeneration experiments revealed that CMCO/KC also had fine regeneration activity and stability for CO/CO2 removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The low efficiency of montmorillonite (MMT) as a nano-flame retardant has limited its widespread application. In this work, a clay-based flame retardant was developed by modifying MMT with ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and 3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (SCA). Subsequently, wood composites treated with the clay-based flame retardant were prepared, and their char formation and smoke suppression behavior were investigated. MMT sheet effectively absorbed a significant amount of APP, and the broken edges of the sheet were successfully grafted with SCA. This promoted the formation of polyphosphoric acid and improved the interface compatibility among the components of wood composites. The clay-treated wood composites exhibited a reduction in total heat release (by over 27.0%) and a significant increase in char residues (up to 111.9%) compared to the control. Moreover, the second peak of the smoke production rate and mean CO yield were decreased by up to 43.2% and 63.2%, respectively. The formation of continuous, compact, and cross-linking (e.g. C-Si and Si-O-P) char layers endowed wood composites with thermal insulation, delayed the spread of flammable or poisonous gases (e.g. CH4 and CO), and suppressed the release of toxic smoke. Therefore, a simple and effective method for fabricating a clay-based flame retardant was proposed, which holds potential application in wooden construction materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the early twentieth-century coal miners used canaries to detect the presence of poisonous gases underground. Miners treasured canaries for their cheer, partnership, and assistance. This safety practice had largely ended in the United States by the middle of the twentieth century, but the phrase 'canary in a coal mine' took on an extended life as a metaphor, signaling impending disaster in a variety of situations. The metaphor's malleability encouraged the inclusion of caged birds as a plot device. Horror and science fiction films like The Birds, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Arrival, and Bird Box use birds to signal invisible, hard-to-explain risks. The coal mine canary therefore became a sentinel for the most troubling social and political anxieties of each era. It signaled people's worries that they could no longer identify and manage dangers in the modern world, whether those had to do with warfare, the environment, federal surveillance, social media, or epidemics. The birds' use as a warning symbol, though, took miners' beloved, sentient animal and turned it instead into a simple, but powerful tool. The coal mine canary's continued prescence in popular culture also suggests that Americans remain concerned about the viability of new technologies in a rapidly changing world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An unprecedented method has been developed to obtain heterometallic‐organophosphine frameworks (HMOPFs) through a solvent‐free, three‐component mechanochemical process. In a ball mill, mixing copper (I) bromide with zinc (II), nickel (II) or copper (II) acetates, in the presence of (PTA‐CH2‐C6H4‐p‐COOH) Br (PTA is 1,3,5‐triaza‐7‐phosphaadamantane) as an organic linker, has produced the corresponding HMOPFs based on Cu+‐Zn2+, Cu+‐Ni2+ and Cu+‐Cu2+, respectively. The pyrolysis of HMOPFs resulted in bimetallic nanoparticles of transition metal phosphide and phosphate embedded in multi‐P,N,Br‐codoped carbon matrices (Cu−M@C). Due to the utilization of an aminophosphine organic linker, this HMOPFs‐derived approach typifies an eco‐friendly synthesis of carbon confined transition metal phosphides or phosphates. It avoids the common conventional methods that involves phosphorylation using large amounts of additional P sources, which leads to an intensive release of the flammable and poisonous phosphine gas. Also, the presence of Br at the organic linker eliminates the need for using bromine vapours to obtain halogen‐doped carbon matrices. The Cu−M@C nanocomposites were tested as negative electrode materials for asymmetric supercapacitors. Electrochemical tests included cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge‐discharge experiments, which revealed the Cu−Zn@C electrode with a higher potential window as compared to Cu−Ni@C and Cu−Cu@C electrodes, achieving a rate performance of 60 % and high coulombic efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deactivation of catalyst for the oxidation of carbon monoxide in the impurity gases such as CO2, SO2, and NOx are common issues in practical use. In this work, Cu–Mn–Ce composite oxide catalysts (CMCO) were coupled with K2CO3 (KC) to inhibit the poisoning effect of these gases. The CMCO/KC composite catalysts, prepared by multi-step impregnation method, were tested for CO catalytic oxidation and CO2 chemical absorption in the presence of SO2 (0.004% and 0.04%) or NO2 (0.0025% and 0.025%), and further characterized by XRD and XPS. The results showed that CMCO/KC could catalyze CO efficiently at low temperatures, and proper K2CO3 addition (10–50 wt%) could even promote CMCO catalytic activity owing to the CO2 sorption. Among them, CMCO/50KC showed the highest CO catalytic performance with the T50 of 114.5 °C. More importantly, K2CO3 doping treatment could reduce or eliminate the catalyst deactivation caused by SO2 and NO2, due to the competitive sorption reaction of the alkali toward the acid gases. Further regeneration experiments revealed that CMCO/KC also had fine regeneration activity and stability for CO/CO2 removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), one of the most important gasotransmitters, plays a critical role in endogenous signaling pathways of many diseases. However, developing H2S donors with both tunable release kinetics and high release efficiency for subcellular delivery has been challenging. Here, we describe a click and release reaction between pyrone/pyranthiones and bicyclononyne (BCN). This reaction features a release of CO2/COS with second‐order rate constants comparable to Strain‐Promoted Azide‐Alkyne Cycloaddition reactions (SPAACs). Interestingly, pyranthiones showed enhanced reaction rates compared to their pyrone counterparts. We investigated pyrone biorthogonality and demonstrated their utility in protein labeling applications. Moreover, we synthesized substituted pyranthiones with H2S release kinetics that can address the range of physiologically relevant H2S dynamics in cells and achieved quantitative H2S release efficiency in vitro. Finally, we explored the potential of pyranthiones as H2S/COS donors for mitochondrial‐targeted H2S delivery in living cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen cyanide gas is a dangerous and fatal gas that is one of the causes of air pollution in the environment. A small percentage of this gas causes poisoning and eventually death. In this paper, a new PCF is designed that offers high sensitivity and low confinement loss in the absorption wavelength of hydrogen cyanide gas. The proposed structure consists of circular layers that are located around the core, which is also composed of circular microstructures. The finite element method (FEM) is used to simulate the results. According to the results, the PCF gives a high relative sensitivity of 65.13% and a low confinement loss of 1.5 × 10−3 dB/m at a wavelength of 1.533 µm. The impact of increasing the concentration of hydrogen cyanide gas on the relative sensitivity and confinement loss is investigated. The high sensitivity and low confinement losses of the designed PCF show that this optical structure could be a good candidate for the detection of this gas in industrial and medical environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The correlation between the non-use of cooking oil fumes (COFs) extractors and bone mineral density (BMD) have not been clarified. Consequently, this study attempted to explore the impact of non-use COFs extractors on BMD in population aged 45 years and older based on a cross- sectional study. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study within the framework of an ongoing prospective population-based cohort study in China. The multivariate linear regression models were used to evaluate the correlation between the non- use of fume extractors in family cooking and total lumbar spine (LS), femoral neck (FN), total hip BMD and levels of bone metabolism markers. Results: A total of 3433 participants were included in the final analyses, of which 2607 (75.93%) participants used fume extractors. The results of models indicated that there were significant correlations of the non-use of fume extractors on total LS BMD (β = -0.024, 95% CI, -0.036, -0.012, p < 0.001), PINP (β = 4.363, 95% CI, 2.371, 6.356, p < 0.001) and ALP (β = 4.555, 95% CI, 2.593, 6.517, p < 0.001) levels. Conclusions: This study verified that the use of fume extractors is an efficacious measure to prevent LS bone loss. For the sake of public bone health, people should install a fume extractor in the kitchen and use it routinely when cooking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bhopal Disaster, also known as the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, is recognized as the world's worst industrial disaster. The Bhopal Disaster is the only industrial disaster affecting half a million people in the last few decades. Because of the sheer magnitude of this disaster, this topic remains relevant, especially to learn what preventive measures could have been taken to ensure such a tragedy never occurred. The disaster occurred from a mixture of chemicals that produced a toxic gas, a lack of employee reporting when issues arose in the plant and weak safety systems. In December 1984, a poison gas blanketed the city of Bhopal. Due to the mistakes mentioned above, over two thousand people and many more livestock died overnight and were discovered the next morning. The effects of the disaster still linger in the same location to this day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The direct application of Jatropha biodiesel in engines is harmful because of the corrosivity of biodiesel, the emission of poisonous gases, and solid particulate matter. Therefore, it is of paramount important to enhance the biodiesel fuel properties via green routes to effectively utilize it for automotive applications. The synthesis and application of different nanoparticles (NPs) such as ZnO, Mg‐ZnO, TiO2, and SiO2, as fuel property enhancers for Jatropha biodiesel were investigated. The calorific value, oxidation stability, dynamic viscosity etc. were studied for the NP‐blended biodiesels and compared with the traditional biodiesel (B100). Mg‐ZnO was found to be a promising candidate as fuel property enhancer for biodiesels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

States are often ranked on a range of different indicators. In this study, states were ranked for each of the leading actual causes of death. This study ranks states on how hazardous they are to the health of the citizenry in terms of the actual causes of death as identified in the seminal article by McGinnis and Foege. and later updated by Pilar et al. We ranked states for actual cause of death using multiple data sources. We also calculated an overall state ranking across all actual causes of death using the percent weightings attributable to each actual cause from the Pilar et al. study. States were ranked based on their overall score. Significant differences were noted in actual cause ranking both within and across states. A different profile was found for the top and lowest ten ranking states. Results suggest a comprehensive approach grounded in the socio-ecological model combining health promotion/education and health policy to affect change. Health professionals may use these rankings to determine methods for improving health services, programs, and behaviors in their communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the increased risk of high heat release and asphyxiation (toxic gas poisoning) in the event of a fire involving polyurethane (PU)- and MDF-based building materials, which are commonly used in buildings. Among them, polyurethane (PU) building materials are very commonly used in buildings, except in Europe and some other countries, due to their excellent thermal insulation performance. Still, problems of short-term heat release and the spread of toxic gases in the event of a fire continue to occur. To overcome these problems, researchers are actively working on introducing various flame retardants into building materials. Therefore, in this study, we produced a laboratory-sized (500 mm × 500 mm) plate-like flame-retardant board that can be utilized as a building material with a lower heat release rate and a lower toxicity index. The material was made by mixing expanded graphite and ceramic binder as flame retardants in a material that is formulated based on the cellulose of waste paper, replacing the existing building materials with a hot-press method. According to the ISO-5660-1 test on the heat release rate of the plate-like flame-retardant board, the Total Heat Release (THR) value was 2.9 (MJ/m2) for 10 min, showing an effect of reducing the THR value by 36.3 (MJ/m2) compared to the THR value of 39.2 (MJ/m2) of the specimen made using only paper. In addition, the toxicity index of the flame-retardant board was checked through the NES (Naval Engineering Standards)-713 test. As a result, the test specimen showed a toxicity index of 0.7, which is 2.4 lower than the toxicity index of 3.1 of MDF, which is utilized as a conventional building material. Based on the results of this study, the cellulose fire-retardant board showed the effect of reducing the heat release rate and toxicity index of building materials in a building fire, which reduces the risk of rapid heat spread and smoke toxicity. This has the potential to improve the evacuation time (A-SET) of evacuees in fires. It is also important to show that recycling waste paper and utilizing it as the main material for building materials can be an alternative in terms of sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The admissible concentrations of toxic fumes, which appear after blasting works in open pits and underground mine excavations, are presented in this paper. Fumes were examined according to the national standard, which was designed according to European regulations. Fumes that are taken under consideration according to the European standard are carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrate oxides (NOx). The afterburning effect was not included. Analysis showed inconclusive results of possible explosive applicability in countries that are applying the general toxicity index (toxicity coefficient may vary between countries from 5 to 10) instead of the recommended European regulation. Based on the obtained results, it was concluded that the most environmentally friendly explosives are emulsion explosives. Moreover, the ammonium nitrate prill diameter has not significantly affected the fumes' concentration; however, it significantly influences the velocity of detonation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Hypo helmet is a fabric hood soaked with an aqueous solution of two sodium salts for the detoxication of chlorine that was developed during the First World War. Herein, we report on a lecture, developed for non-chemistry majors that used the Hypo helmet to highlight the physical and chemical properties of chlorine. The lecture consisted of the following three components: (1) a brief introduction to the First World War (the Chemists' War), (2) video demonstrations of the generation of chlorine by mixing bleaching powder and hydrochloric acid and the detoxication of chlorine using a dummy Hypo helmet, and (3) students' written impressions of the lecture. The students' written impressions revealed two things: the lecture on chlorine and the Hypo helmet was well received, and most of the students (71 %, N = 82) did not know that chlorine was used as a poisonous gas during the First World War. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a highly poisonous and corrosive gas, is regarded as a hazardous air pollutant with significant effects on human health. Hence, reduction of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas from the atmosphere is very essential. In the present work, self‐priming venturi scrubber is employed to extract H2S gas from the air. Response surface methodology (RSM) with a central composite design (CCD) has been selected to investigate maximizing the H2S removal efficiency by optimizing the process variables. Experiments were carried out by altering the throat gas velocity, outer cylinder liquid level and inlet concentration of H2S. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) test showed that the parameters had a significant effect on the efficiency of H2S removal. A quadratic equation has been developed that accurately predicts the percentage of removal efficiency. The appropriateness of the generated model has been verified by the value of higher R2 resulting from the regression analysis. According to the observations, the velocity of throat gas has the highest effect on the H2S removal efficiency, whereas inlet H2S concentration has the least effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Different types of solvents and adhesives are used in a shoe factory. The toxic chemicals can cause acute and chronic effects on the central and peripheral nervous system. Here, we report a case of a 25-year-old young man working as a coloring and gluing worker in a shoe factory, who presented with progressive quadriparesis following exposure of six months. Some of his coworkers also developed a similar illness. Nerve conduction velocity studies of the patient showed combined sensory and motor demyelinating and axonal polyneuropathy. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis was normal. With conservative management and physiotherapy, there is a gradual improvement of the condition in the patient who can ambulate independently now. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Pediatría de Atención Primaria is the property of LUA Ediciones 3.0 S.L. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)