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BackgroundAccess to water and sanitation is a basic human right; however, in many parts of the world, communities experience water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) insecurity. While WaSH insecurity is prevalent in many low and middle-income countries, it is also a problem in high-income countries, like the United States, as is evident in vulnerable populations, including people experiencing homelessness. Limited knowledge exists about the coping strategies unhoused people use to access WaSH services. This study, therefore, examines WaSH access among unhoused communities in Los Angeles, California, a city with the second-highest count of unhoused people across the nation.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study using a snowball sampling technique with 263 unhoused people living in Skid Row, Los Angeles. We calculated frequencies and used multivariable models to describe (1) how unhoused communities cope and gain access to WaSH services in different places, and (2) what individual-level factors contribute to unhoused people's ability to access WaSH services.ResultsOur findings reveal that access to WaSH services for unhoused communities in Los Angeles is most difficult at night. Reduced access to overnight sanitation resulted in 19% of the sample population using buckets inside their tents and 28% openly defecating in public spaces. Bottled water and public taps are the primary drinking water source, but 6% of the sample reported obtaining water from fire hydrants, and 50% of the population stores water for night use. Unhoused people also had limited access to water and soap for hand hygiene throughout the day, with 17% of the sample relying on hand sanitizer to clean their hands. Shower and laundry access were among the most limited services available, and reduced people's ability to maintain body hygiene practices and limited employment opportunities. Our regression models suggest that WaSH access is not homogenous among the unhoused. Community differences exist; the odds of having difficulty accessing sanitation services is two times greater for those living outside of Skid Row (Adj OR: 2.52; 95% CI: 1.08-6.37) and three times greater for people who have been unhoused for more than six years compared to people who have been unhoused for less than a year (Adj OR: 3.26; 95% CI: 1.36-8.07).ConclusionOverall, this study suggests a need for more permanent, 24-h access to WaSH services for unhoused communities living in Skid Row, including toilets, drinking water, water and soap for hand hygiene, showers, and laundry services.

The COVID-19 pandemic-and its associated restrictions-have changed many behaviors that can influence environmental exposures including chemicals found in commercial products, packaging and those resulting from pollution. The pandemic also constitutes a stressful life event, leading to symptoms of acute traumatic stress. Data indicate that the combination of environmental exposure and psychological stress jointly contribute to adverse child health outcomes. Within the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO)-wide Cohort, a national consortium initiated to understand the effects of environmental exposures on child health and development, our objective was to assess whether there were pandemic-related changes in behavior that may be associated with environmental exposures. A total of 1535 participants from nine cohorts completed a survey via RedCap from December 2020 through May 2021. The questionnaire identified behavioral changes associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in expected directions, providing evidence of construct validity. Behavior changes reported by at least a quarter of the respondents include eating less fast food and using fewer ultra-processed foods, hair products, and cosmetics. At least a quarter of respondents reported eating more home cooked meals and using more antibacterial soaps, liquid soaps, hand sanitizers, antibacterial and bleach cleaners. Most frequent predictors of behavior change included Hispanic ethnicity and older age (35 years and older). Respondents experiencing greater COVID-related stress altered their behaviors more than those not reporting stress. These findings highlight that behavior change associated with the pandemic, and pandemic-related psychological stress often co-occur. Thus, prevention strategies and campaigns that limit environmental exposures, support stress reduction, and facilitate behavioral change may lead to the largest health benefits in the context of a pandemic. Analyzing biomarker data in these participants will be helpful to determine if behavior changes reported associate with measured changes in exposure.

BackgroundEstimates of the effectiveness of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions that provide high levels of service on childhood diarrhoea are scarce. We aimed to provide up-to-date estimates on the burden of disease attributable to WASH and on the effects of different types of WASH interventions on childhood diarrhoea in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs).MethodsIn this systematic review and meta-analysis, we updated previous reviews following their search strategy by searching MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and BIOSIS Citation Index for studies of basic WASH interventions and of WASH interventions providing a high level of service, published between Jan 1, 2016, and May 25, 2021. We included randomised and non-randomised controlled trials conducted at household or community level that matched exposure categories of the so-called service ladder approach of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) for WASH. Two reviewers independently extracted study-level data and assessed risk of bias using a modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and certainty of evidence using a modified Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. We analysed extracted relative risks (RRs) and 95% CIs using random-effects meta-analyses and meta-regression models. This study is registered with PROSPERO, CRD42016043164.Findings19 837 records were identified from the search, of which 124 studies were included, providing 83 water (62 616 children), 20 sanitation (40 799 children), and 41 hygiene (98 416 children) comparisons. Compared with untreated water from an unimproved source, risk of diarrhoea was reduced by up to 50% with water treated at point of use (POU): filtration (n=23 studies; RR 0·50 [95% CI 0·41-0·60]), solar treatment (n=13; 0·63 [0·50-0·80]), and chlorination (n=25; 0·66 [0·56-0·77]). Compared with an unimproved source, provision of an improved drinking water supply on premises with higher water quality reduced diarrhoea risk by 52% (n=2; 0·48 [0·26-0·87]). Overall, sanitation interventions reduced diarrhoea risk by 24% (0·76 [0·61-0·94]). Compared with unimproved sanitation, providing sewer connection reduced diarrhoea risk by 47% (n=5; 0·53 [0·30-0·93]). Promotion of handwashing with soap reduced diarrhoea risk by 30% (0·70 [0·64-0·76]).InterpretationWASH interventions reduced risk of diarrhoea in children in LMICs. Interventions supplying either water filtered at POU, higher water quality from an improved source on premises, or basic sanitation services with sewer connection were associated with increased reductions. Our results support higher service levels called for under SDG 6. Notably, no studies evaluated interventions that delivered access to safely managed WASH services, the level of service to which universal coverage by 2030 is committed under the SDG.FundingWHO, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, and National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine strongly actualized the issue of liquid biofuels production. Ethyl esters biodiesel may be produced from widely available domestic Ukrainian oils and locally produced bioethanol. Dry washing with adsorbents is an advanced biodiesel purification technique. There is still a lack of information on the dry washing of alkaline ethanolysis products, especially concerning the removal of heavy contaminants, originating from partially polymerized waste oils. Current work deals with the investigation of available materials as adsorbents for the purification of crude ethyl esters (88% esters, 1.61% monoacylglycerols, 0.73% diacylglycerols, 0.19% tryacylglyceroles, 1.04% soaps, 0.12% fatty acids, 1.07% glycerol, and 0.17% ethanol). Esters were prepared via alkaline-catalyzed transesterification of wasted frying sunflower oil (2.46 mg KOH/g, 7.1% palmitic, 3.5% stearic, 27.7% oleic, and 59.3% linoleic acids). Activated anthracite, synthetic carbon Chemviron, colloidal silica, meta-kaolin, talc, and bentonite were evaluated as adsorbents. All samples provided the removal of the majority of soaps and glycerol, decreased the ethanol concentration, and, in most cases, acid value. Dry washing had almost no impact on the acylglycerols content. Activated carbons, characterized by a combination of developed micro- and mesoporosity, produced the greatest results, including a minor amount of monoacylglycerols removal. However, none of the adsorbents provided the removal of heavy oligomer contaminants, which is indirectly indicated by no higher than 90% esters content in treated samples. Improvement of these characteristics may be achieved by vacuum distillation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Compared to adults, newborns' skin has a thinner epidermis and stratum corneum with decreased hydration levels, higher transepidermal water loss, and a pH variation between 5.5 and 7.5. These characteristics can predispose to the occurrence of dryness, infections, and dermatological conditions. Water and liquid soap with adequate formulation have shown to be beneficial and safe for newborns' skin. However, studies evaluating the effect of bar soap, products widely used in Brazil and Latin America, are unknown. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compare the effects of liquid and bar soaps on the term newborns' skin. Methods: This randomized controlled, parallel, single-blind clinical trial was conducted at a public university hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. 100 healthy term newborns with no congenital anomalies, acute diseases, or dermatological conditions were randomized to use liquid soap (experimental group) or bar soap (control group). Skin pH, transepidermal water loss, stratum corneum hydration, sebum content, and skin condition were assessed before and after the first bath, at 48 h, 14 days, and 28 days after birth. These evaluations were performed on the forearm, abdomen, buttocks, and thigh. In addition, the mother's perception of soap use was also evaluated. Results: Data of 100 newborns were analyzed by intention to treat. The rate of retention was 53%. Newborns exposed to the liquid soap presented significantly better skin acidification (p < 0.001) and significantly better stratum corneum hydration (p < 0.001) than the skin of newborns exposed to the bar soap, regardless of the area evaluated. There were no significant differences in transepidermal water loss, sebum content, dryness, erythema, or skin breakdown and the mother's perceptions of the use of the soaps. Conclusion: Newborns in the experimental group presented better skin acidification and stratum corneum hydration when compared to newborns in the control group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of carotenoids by microbial organisms has gained significant interest due to the growing demand for natural products. Among the non-model oleaginous red yeasts, Rhodotorula toruloides stands out as an appealing host for natural carotenoid production. R. toruloides possesses the natural ability to metabolize a wide range of substrates, including lignocellulosic hydrolysates, and convert them into lipids and carotenoids. In this study, we focused on utilizing xylose, the main component of hemicellulose, as the major substrate for R. toruloides. We conducted a comprehensive kinetic evaluation to examine the impact of aeration and agitation on carotenoid production. Results in stirred-tank reactor demonstrated that under milder conditions (300 rpm and 0.5 vvm), R. toruloides accumulated over 70% of its cell mass as lipids. Furthermore, the highest carotenoid yields were achieved at high agitation rates (700 rpm), with carotenoid levels reaching nearly 120 µg/mL. Several carotenoids were identified, including β-carotene, γ-carotene, torularhodin, and torulene, with β-carotene being the major carotenoid, accounting for up to 70% of the total carotenoid content. The carotenoid-rich extract produced by R. toruloides under evaluated conditions was successfully incorporated into soap formulations, demonstrating the addition of antioxidant properties. This work provides a comprehensive understanding of xylose conversion into natural carotenoids by R. toruloides, presenting a promising avenue for their application in cosmetics. Furthermore, this study highlights the potential of a renewable and cost-effective approach for carotenoid production in the soap industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, in order to maintain cleanliness in our houses, as well as to maintain personal hygiene, numerous chemical agents are used every day. Dishwashing detergents are used the most, followed by laundry detergents, various soaps and hair shampoos, and not infrequently descaling agents, for cleaning ovens, unclogging drainage and sewage pipes, neutralizing unpleasant odours, etc. Although their number is growing day by day, most people do not realize the consequences, or at least not enough, and especially not about their potentially toxic effects. In fact, a great deal of the population do not consider household chemicals a particular problem, which is true, if they are used in the prescribed manner. However, the fact that these agents can cause harmful effects in humans and animals, and even participate in environmental pollution, is more than a sufficient reason to pay more attention to these agents, that is, to talk about them more and obtain more information for that matter. Particularly since there are authors who believe that some of the mentioned agents can even cause cancer, asthma or birth defects, i.e. infertility. Household chemicals can be divided in several ways, and one of the classifications is the one made according to the place of use. According to this division, the products we use every day at home can be roughly divided into those used for cleaning and maintaining hygiene in kitchens, used for the same purposes in bathrooms (including those used for personal hygiene ), and the products used in rooms and on terraces (flower protection). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundHandwashing prevalence in schools in Kenya is low due to lack of access to water and soap and lack of drive for handwashing. Soapy water made from detergent powder is an inexpensive alternative to bar soap and disgust and social norms change can be powerful drivers of handwashing, but their effectiveness has not been assessed in school setting. In Kenyan public schools, we evaluated an equipment-behavior change intervention's effect on handwashing outcomes. We also monitored functionality of the Povu Poa prototypes to identify design improvements necessary for continued high usage in institutional settings.MethodsThe intervention included the "Povu Poa", a new type of handwashing station that dispensed foaming soap and rinse water, combined with school-wide behavior change promotion based on disgust and social norms. In this stepped-wedge cluster-randomized trial, we randomly selected 30 schools and divided them into 3 groups of 10. Following baseline data collection, we delivered the intervention sequentially (Group 1: 3-5 weeks after baseline; Group 2: 6-8 weeks; Group 3: 19-24 weeks). We observed outcomes [1] availability of handwashing materials at handwashing places, and; 2) observed handwashing behavior after toilet use among schoolchildren) at baseline and in three follow-up rounds. We compared the outcomes between schools that had received the intervention and schools that had not yet received the intervention.ResultsWater and soap/soapy water were available at 2% of school visits before intervention, and at 42% of school visits after intervention.. Before intervention, we observed handwashing with water after 11% of 461 toilet use events; no one was observed to wash hands with soap/soapy water. After intervention, we observed handwashing after 62% of 383 toilet use events (PR = 5.96, 95% CI = 3.02, 11.76) and handwashing with soap/soapy water after 26% of events (PR incalculable). Foaming soap dispenser caps were cracked in 31% of all observations, but were typically still functional.ConclusionsOur combined equipment-behavior intervention increased availability of handwashing materials and improved the compliance with handwashing after using the toilet, but handwashing with soap was still rare. Equipment durability must be improved for deployment in schools at scale. American Economic Association's Registry for Randomized Controlled Trials; Trial Registry Number (TRN): AEARCTR-0000662; Date of Registry: April 14, 2015.

This paper investigates the role of European Public Service Media (PSM) in the commissioning and scheduling of local series over the past three decades. With a comparative approach between the main European television markets (Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Spain), the schedules of 30 seasons of 25 general-interest channels have been analysed to explore how the changes in the markets have altered the role of public channels as promoters of domestic fiction and local culture. The study shows a clear division along a Northern European axis with a large, uninterrupted commissioning of locally produced fiction, while Southern European public corporations have had a lower, more erratic approach. Despite this difference, all European PSM organisations analysed have maintained and increased the volume of local series titles during the last decade despite the appearance of portfolio DTT channels and transnational SVOD services, in contrast to commercial corporations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Soaps play an important role in our hygiene and health, as they not only have a bactericidal effect but also remove dirt from the human body. To evaluate the effectiveness of soaps with antimicrobial activity from different commercial brands sold in Brazil. Tests of the antimicrobial activity of different soaps were carried out through diffusion in agar against the microorganisms Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter cloacae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Proteus mirabilis, and Candida albicans. All commercial soaps tested transfer antimicrobial inhibition halo formation against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa bacteria. Only two commercial soaps inhibit the species A. baumannii and C. albicans. None of the seven products studied showed inhibition of E. cloacae, P. mirabilis, and E. coli bacteria. When comparing the information contained in the packaging of the products with the results obtained during a survey, divergences were observed. The soaps that provide greater efficiency against the tested microorganisms were presented in presentations 1 and 2, which become useful against the bacteria species S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and A. baumannii and a fungus species C. albicans. Marks 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 parallel the same sensitivity result opposite as bacteria of the species S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, with quantitative variation only of the inhibition halo. There was a divergence between the information contained in the packaging of the seven products under study and the results of the experimental tests.

Background: While soaps are the most commonly used cleansing agents for human skin, they also damage the epidermal barrier and potentially increase the risk of disorders such as contact dermatitis. Aims: This study set out to compare the potential skin irritancy of four types of soaps and their effects on the skin barrier function and biophysical parameters. Methods: In a nonblinded comparative study, three types of soaps (alkaline, creamy, and glycerin soaps), and a syndet were applied to four different groups of 15 healthy subjects. Subjects washed their left forearm with the respective soap at home at least four times a day for seven days. Biophysical skin parameters, including transepidermal water loss (TEWL), erythema, friction, and pH, were measured at various time points using the Cutometer®MPA 580. Results: After the first wash, a significant increase in TEWL was observed for all groups compared to the pre‐intervention period. For the alkaline soap, a substantial increase in pH was observed at all time points compared to the baseline. Syndet, the only acidic soap in this study, showed a significant decrease in pH at the last time compared to all time points. The mean value of erythema was significantly higher in alkaline soap users than glycerin and creamy soap users. Conclusion: Our study showed that alkaline‐based soaps could cause erythema and increase TEWL and skin pH due to their strong cleansing action, and the addition of compounds such as glycerin can modify these effects. A newer generation of soap containing a mild surfactant such as syndets causes less skin damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anti- microbial activity tests of the seed oil, NaOH and ash soaps of the seed oil, of C.albidum were carried out to determine their effectiveness against gram+, gram– bacteria and some fungi strains. The proximate analysis of C.albidum seeds was performed to determine its nutritional benefits to mankind. Agar diffusion tests using Disc diffusion for the pure oils and soaps while the cup plate test method for dilutions was used in the determination of in-vitro activities. Standard methods as described by AOAC, (1990); AOAC, (1984) and Kjeldahl method described by Chang (2003) were used for proximate determinations. The results show the activity of the oil against Klebsiella pneumonia at a concentration as low as 10 mg/ml. The ash-soap of the leaves shows the highest antimicrobial activities because its MIC is the closest to the standard, Streptomycin. It possesses activity against Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia at a concentration as low as 5mg/ml. The % proximate analysis composition shows Moisture content, Ash content, Crude Fibre, fat/Oil, Protein, Carbohydrates as follows (14.98, 1.90, 2.09, 2.38, 12.14 and 67.65)%. The study concluded by unleashing the great potential of Chrysophyllum albidum seeds as a useful raw material in food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries rather than being regarded as waste in the environment

Better understanding of frictional behaviour of powdered soaps used in dry wire drawing can lead to improvements in wire quality and large savings in energy consumption. The latter is particularly significant given the colossal amounts of energy expended in wire drawing processes. However, there is currently a very limited understanding of the subject, including a lack of quantitative data on soap friction. This is at least in part likely to be due to complex tribological behaviour of the powdered soaps, which is very different from that of lubricating oils. This paper studies frictional behaviour of sodium and calcium powdered soaps, using a ball-on-disc tribometer (ETM rig) incorporating a powder 'scoop', and under contact conditions pertinent to die-wire contact in wire drawing. Tests employed a WC ball and C15E steel disc to mimic die and wire materials respectively. Results show that under high sliding conditions, friction coefficient with powered soaps is remarkably low, at 0.03 and 0.04 for sodium and calcium soaps respectively. Friction generally decreased with increasing contact pressure and sliding speed. Post-test analysis of ETM specimens showed the presence of thick soap layers on the rubbed surfaces. However, in ETM tests friction was observed to sharply increase leading to the onset of scuffing, soon after the supply of soap to the contact was interrupted, suggesting that any solid deposited layers are easily removed and cannot exclusively explain the low friction. The observed trends suggest that low soap friction may be due to the ability of the soaps to form low shear stress lubricating films at high contact temperatures which are associated with the harsh conditions of high-speed and high-pressure. The results provide new insights into the frictional behaviour of powdered soaps which can be used to optimise the wire drawing processes as well as a direct input to wire deformation models. • Friction in wire drawing has major impact on wire quality and energy consumption. • Ball-on-disc ETM machine is used to study friction of typical wire drawing soaps. • Soaps have remarkably low friction (0.03-0.04) at high sliding speeds and pressures. • Continuous supply of soap is needed to ensure low friction and avoid rapid scuffing. • It is likely that soaps can form low shear stress lubricating films at high contact temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Handwashing with soap is recognized as a cost-effective intervention to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with enteric and respiratory infections. This study analyzes rural Indonesian households hygiene behaviors and attitudes to examine how motivations for handwashing, locations of handwashing space in the household, and handwashing moments are associated with handwashing with soap as potential determinants of the behavior. The analysis was conducted using results from a UNICEF cross-sectional study of 1700 households in six districts across three provinces of Indonesia. A composite measure of handwashing with soap was developed that included self-reported handwashing, a handwashing demonstration, and observed handwashing materials and location of facilities in the home. Prevalence ratios were calculated to analyze associations between handwashing with soap and hypothesized determinants of the behavior. Our results showed that determinants that had a significant association with handwashing with soap included: (1) a desire to smell nice; (2) interpersonal influences; (3) the presence of handwashing places within 10 paces of the kitchen and the toilet; and (4) key handwashing moments when hands felt dirty, including after eating and after cleaning child stools. This study concludes that handwashing with soap may be more effectively promoted through the use of non-health messages.

The new handwashing system, designed with end user input, features an economical foaming soap dispenser and a hygienic, water-efficient tap for use in household and institutional settings that lack reliable access to piped water. Cost of the soap and water needed for use is less than US$0.10 per 100 handwash uses, compared with US$0.20–$0.44 for conventional handwashing stations used in Kenya.

Background: Personal care products (PCPs) are commonly responsible for allergic contact dermatitis and irritant contact dermatitis. PCP use was historically associated with females, but male-targeted PCPs are increasingly being marketed.Objective: To characterize and compare males with PCP-related contact dermatitis (MPCPs) and females with PCP-related contact dermatitis (FPCPs).Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of North American Contact Dermatitis Group data (1996-2016).Results: Four thousand six hundred eighty of 16,233 men (28.8%) and 12,730 of 32,222 (39.5%) women had a PCP identified as a source of irritant contact dermatitis or a positive patch test reaction. The proportion of PCP-related dermatitis in both sexes significantly increased (>2.7-fold) over the decade of study. Compared with FPCPs, a larger proportion of MPCPs were older or had trunk or extremity dermatitis (P < .0001). MPCPs were twice as likely to have soaps as a source while FPCPs were twice as likely to have hair care products (P < .0001). The most common PCP-related North American Contact Dermatitis Group allergens for both sexes were methylisothiazolinone (MPCP 28.8% and FPCP 21.5%), fragrance mix I (MPCP 22.3% and FPCP 20.1%), balsam of Peru (MPCP 18.5% and FPCP 14.1%), quaternium-15 (MPCP 16.1% and FPCP 12.3%), and paraphenylenediamine (MPCP 11.5% and FPCP 11.1%).Limitations: Patient population referred for suspected contact dermatitis.Conclusions: PCP-related dermatitis is increasing. Sites of involvement and relevant PCP sources are distinct between sexes. Male and female variation in exposure history may explain differences in reactivity to some allergen groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using used cooking oil in culinary harms human health because this oil is carcinogenic due to being easily oxidized when it is isogenic. In addition, if used cooking oil becomes waste from household kitchens, it will hurt the earth in the form of the environment. The use of simple technology can help recycle used cooking oil into laundry or body soap, a product that can also be used for daily household needs by the community. The Andalas University community engagement team conducted the training through an online workshop based on the Zoom application on June 4, 2020, which 133 participants attended. The speaker processed used cooking oil with NaOH solution and natural dyes (according to the dose) directly in front of the participants. The participants practised it in their respective homes. Discussions between participants and speaker were conducted interactively, guided by a workshop moderator. At the end of the session, the speaker and participants could demonstrate the soaps recycled from used cooking oil in their respective kitchens. The follow-up to the activity was creating and managing WhatsApp groups as a forum for proactive communication with related topics. Creative participants produce soaps, which can be used for families, reducing daily expenses. It was recommended that the best-produced soaps could also be marketed to the public.

There is currently no single, easy-to-use, reliable indicator to assess whether a face has been washed with soap in the context of trachoma elimination. This study aimed to compare survey report, script-based pictorial recall and facial cleanliness indicators as alternatives to structured observation for measuring face washing behaviour. This method validation study was nested in the Stronger-SAFE trial, Oromia Region, Ethiopia. Structured observation was conducted in randomly selected households for three hours from dawn. The primary caregiver in each household participated in a survey to capture (self)-reported behaviour and/or script-based pictorial recall, a routine-based diary activity to covertly capture information on face washing behaviour of themself and any children aged 1-12. Children 4-12 years old directly participated in the survey and pictorial recall in a subset of households. The facial cleanliness of children aged 1-12 was assessed qualitatively and using the quantitative Personal Hygiene Assessment Tool (qPHAT). Prevalence estimates, sensitivity, specificity and predictive values were computed for each behavioural indicator with observation data as the gold standard. The appropriateness of script-based pictorial recall was assessed using baseline and 3-month follow-up data. Baseline data were collected from 204 households in 68 clusters. Survey estimates of face washing and face washing with soap among caregivers and children were 32% to 60% and 5% to 31% higher than observed behaviour, respectively. Face washing prevalence estimates from pictorial recall were lower than survey estimates and comparable with observations for some face washing with soap indicators (0.3% to 13% higher than observations). Specificity of pictorial recall indicators was high (85% to 99%), but the sensitivity was low (0% to 67%), resulting in a low positive predictive value for all indicators. Both qualitative facial cleanliness indicators and qPHAT scores were poorly correlated with observed face washing earlier that morning. Pictorial recall overestimated face washing with soap among both caregivers and children following intervention delivery but not at baseline. Survey (self)-reported data on face washing is highly inaccurate. Script-based pictorial recall does not correctly classify those who wash their face with soap, and is subject to differential bias following intervention exposure, and facial cleanliness is a poor indicator of recent face washing in settings where faces become rapidly dirty again after washing. Alternatives to structured observation cannot be recommended to monitor the effectiveness of face washing interventions in community settings. Trial Registration ISRCTN registry ISRCTN40760473, https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN40760473., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Greenland et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background/aims: The study aimed to assess the surface characteristics of sports mouthguards under mechanical stresses during cleaning, either by brushing or immersion in disinfectant solutions., Material and Methods: Ethylene-vinyl acetate samples, 4 mm thick, were randomly assigned to cleaning methods: control (C-no cleaning), brushing with water (B.W), brushing with neutral liquid soap (B.S), brushing with toothpaste (B.T), immersion in distilled water for 10 min (I.W), immersion in 2.25% sodium hypochlorite solution for 10 min (I.SH), and immersion in sodium bicarbonate solution for 5 min (I.SB). All cleaning methods were applied for 28 days. Surface roughness average (Ra) and wettability were measured at baseline for the control group (n = 9), and after cleaning for all the other groups., Results: One-way ANOVA with Tukey tests (5% significance) indicated significant differences among groups (p < .05). The I.SB group had higher surface roughness than B.S and B.T (p < .05). B.W showed the lowest wettability, significantly lower than B.T, I.W, and I.SB (p < .05). I.SB exhibited the highest wettability, significantly different from sodium hypochlorite, neutral liquid soap, brushing with water, and control groups (p < .05). The sodium bicarbonate immersion group (I.SB) demonstrated greater statistical variation, displaying higher susceptibility to aging compared to brushing with neutral liquid soap., Conclusion: Cleaning mouthguards with a toothbrush, water, and neutral liquid soap emerged as the most promising method, causing minimal surface changes in the material., (© 2024 The Authors. Dental Traumatology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Washing with water is not inferior to washing with soaps and detergents in children with atopic dermatitis (AD) in remission during the fall-winter seasons. We investigated whether this finding varies during summer based on the type of cleanser (soaps and detergents)., Methods: This evaluator-blinded, pragmatic, randomized, and non-inferiority study enrolled patients with AD whose eczema was controlled following regular steroid ointment application 2 days/week. For 8 ± 4 weeks, participants washed their upper and lower limbs with a cleanser on one side and with water alone on the other. Each participant chose either a weakly alkaline soap or an acidic detergent. The primary outcome was the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) score at week 8 ± 4., Results: The data of 43 of the 47 registered participants were analyzed. The median patient age was 44 (23-99) months; 28 and 15 participants chose weakly alkaline and acidic cleansers, respectively. At week 8 ± 4, EASI scores of the water and cleanser sides were 0.00 (0.00-0.40) and 0.15 (0.00-0.40), respectively (p = 0.74). The difference between both sides was 0.00 (-0.07 to 0.14); the limits of the 95 % confidence interval did not reach the pre-specified non-inferiority margin. No difference was observed in the median Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure score, number of additional steroid ointment applications, and occurrences of skin infections. There were no differences between the cleanser types in any of the results., Conclusions: We demonstrated that washing with water was not inferior to that with a cleanser in patients with AD in the maintenance phase during summer, regardless of the type of cleanser., (Copyright © 2024 Japanese Society of Allergology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: The normally acidic skin pH changes in atopic dermatitis (AD) to alkaline, which contributes to the associated skin-barrier dysfunction. Hence, acidic cleansers would be preferred, but such information is scarce. Objective: Guiding health-care providers and patients on selecting skin cleansers with a pH optimal for AD. Methods: A total of 250 products were tested: 37 soaps (32 bars, 5 liquid) and 213 syndets (14 bars, 199 liquid); 10% solutions were tested for pH by using a pH meter; pH values 6.65-7.35 were considered neutral. Results: The pH of the tested skin cleansers varied widely (3.59-10.83). All 37 soaps were highly alkaline. In the 14 syndet bars, the pH was neutral in 6, alkaline in 8, and acidic in none. In the 199 syndet liquids, the pH was acidic in 84.9%, neutral in 11.1%, and alkaline in 4.0%. The product's pH was disclosed in none of the 37 soaps and in only 32 syndets (15%) , of which 9 bars were labeled "balanced," whose measured pH was neutral in 6 and alkaline in 3. Of the other 23 syndets, the labeled pH was referred to as "balanced" in 20 whose measured pH was neutral in 2 (6.80, 6.88) and acidic in 18 (3.59-6.59). The pH in the other three syndets was 4.25-6.00. Conclusion: All tested soaps had undesirable pH, whereas 84.9% of the liquid syndets were acidic (which is desirable) and 11.1% were neutral (which could be acceptable). Only 12.8% of the products disclosed the pH, an issue in need of improvement.

Ballistic soap blocks are used in wound ballistics to assess the potential damage of the ammunition employed, allowing observation of the energy transfer occurred along the wound channel. The density and viscosity of ballistic soap (also called tissue simulant) simulate, to a good degree of approximation, the effect resulting from the interaction of penetrating bullets with living human soft tissue. Ballistic soap has a "plastic reaction" to bullet penetration, and therefore, unlike ballistic gelatin, the expansion of temporary cavity remains imprinted in the tissue simulant. When the soap blocks are sectioned or divided with nondestructive instrumental techniques (e.g., Compton's scattering tomography), it's possible, therefore, to observe the temporary cavity determined by the penetration of the bullet. This study provides insight into the severity of injuries originated from two different types of bullets of the same caliber by employing ballistic soap as a tissue simulant. In addition, it provides guidance to forensic practitioners on the proper use of ballistic soap for simulating gunshot wounds. The semi-computational approach employed, based on the results obtained from the firing tests, allowed the authors to understand that there is likely a threshold value of projectile energy density, close to 1 J/mm 2 , beyond which its penetration into the ballistic soap ceases., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

It is a common practice in forensic casework to use presumptive tests for blood stains before DNA extraction and testing. Stains are usually swabbed and then the swabs are sent for analysis. The Kastle-Meyer (KM) and Leucomalachite green (LMG) presumptive tests for blood are widely used, and their sensitivities have been thoroughly tested in the literature in solution and directly on stains, but not on swabbed stains to mimic casework. In this study, the sensitivity of the KM and LMG tests was tested on eight blood dilutions on cotton fabric and ceramic tile that were stained and subsequently swabbed. Both tests showed sensitivity up to 1:5000, which is slightly lower than reported values in solution or directly on stain but still highly effective in most cases. Stains were also cleaned with common agents, then swabbed and re-tested. Stained ceramic tiles cleaned with soap/water or bleach gave mixed positive and negative results for the 1:10 dilution, presumably due to variance in how thoroughly each investigator cleaned the stain, and other dilutions were undetectable after cleaning. The LMG test gave false positives for bleach cleaned stains, due to reagent reactivity with bleach. Surprisingly, blood was detectible up to the 1:100 dilution with both tests on stained cotton fabric that was cleaned in a washing machine with detergent and dried. Ultimately the KM and LMG presumptive tests remain effective tools for swabbed blood stains, and their practicality for cleaned stains is dependent on material containing the stain, cleaning agent and processing., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Public Health Agencies worldwide (World Health Organization, United States Centers for Disease Prevention & Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, etc.) are recommending hand washing with soap and water for preventing the dissemination of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections. In this review, we have discussed the mechanisms of decontamination by soap and water (involving both removal and inactivation), described the contribution of the various components of formulated soaps to performance as cleansers and to pathogen inactivation, explained why adherence to recommended contact times is critical, evaluated the possible contribution of water temperature to inactivation, discussed the advantages of antimicrobial soaps vs. basic soaps, discussed the differences between use of soap and water vs. alcohol-based hand sanitizers for hand decontamination, and evaluated the limitations and advantages of different methods of drying hands following washing. While the paper emphasizes data applicable to SARS-CoV-2, the topics discussed are germane to most emerging and re-emerging enveloped and non-enveloped viruses and many other pathogen types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reuse of treated wastewater for agricultural irrigation in arid and hot climates where plant transpiration is high may affect plant accumulation of pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) and endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). In this study, carrot, lettuce, and tomato plants were grown in solution containing 16 PPCP/EDCs in either a cool-humid or a warm-dry environment. Leaf bioconcentration factors (BCF) were positively correlated with transpiration for chemical groups of different ionized states (p < 0.05). However, root BCFs were correlated with transpiration only for neutral PPCP/EDCs (p < 0.05). Neutral and cationic PPCP/EDCs showed similar accumulation, while anionic PPCP/EDCs had significantly higher accumulation in roots and significantly lower accumulation in leaves (p < 0.05). Results show that plant transpiration may play a significant role in the uptake and translocation of PPCP/EDCs, which may have a pronounced effect in arid and hot climates where irrigation with treated wastewater is common.