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Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic led to widespread fear of infection, with many people expanding their use of cleaning products and trying unproven prevention and treatment strategies. We described shifts in reported exposures related to COVID-19 home interventions. Methods: This study considered suspected toxicity exposures involving household cleaning products (bleach, peroxide, disinfectants), antimalarials (hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine), and ivermectin reported to the California Poison Control System from 2015 through 2021 and assessed trends in exposures by using interrupted time-series analyses. Results: We found a significant increase in exposures reported to the California Poison Control System related to household cleaning products and ivermectin during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of January 1, 2015, the baseline level of reported exposures to household cleaning products was 707.33 per month and was declining at a rate of 1.71 (95% CI, –2.87 to –0.56) per month through February 29, 2020. In March 2020, an increase of 466.57 (95% CI, 328.08-605.07) reported exposures above baseline occurred, after which exposures to cleaning products decreased at a rate of 23.40 (95% CI, –32.48 to –14.32) per month. The number of reported exposures to antimalarials did not change significantly before or during the pandemic. The number of reported ivermectin exposures before December 2020 was initially stable at 14.50 per month and then increased by 2.05 per month through December 2021. Conclusions: Our observations suggest that while some dangerous home prevention and treatment efforts resolve over time, further interventions may be needed to reduce the public health effects related to attempts to self-treat COVID-19 with ivermectin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACTInnate immune cells, especially neutrophils, play key roles in protecting against infection by Candida albicans and other fungal pathogens. A distinct aspect of neutrophils compared to other phagocytes is that they make much higher levels of myeloperoxidase, which converts H2O2 generated during the oxidative burst into highly reactive hypochlorous acid (HOCl). The effects of HOCl on C. albicans are not well defined, so comparative studies were used to show that HOCl kills C. albicans at lower doses than H2O2 and in a manner that correlates with permeabilization of the plasma membrane. Mutants with defects in plasma membrane organization and antioxidant pathways showed differential sensitivity to these oxidants, consistent with their distinct chemical properties. Transcriptional responses to HOCl and H2O2 were also quite different. Although they induced a common set of genes, most differentially regulated genes were unique. Testing the roles of genes that were predicted to be important for counteracting the types of thiol oxidation that are preferentially caused by HOCl showed that Mxr1 (methionine-S-sulfoxide reductase), Srx1 (sulfiredoxin that reduces cysteine-sulfinic acid groups), and Trx1 (thioredoxin that acts to reduce disulfide bonds) all promoted resistance to HOCl. Altogether, these results suggest that an effective way to help promote the killing of C. albicans by neutrophils would be to perturb the C. albicans plasma membrane, rather than targeting one specific antioxidant pathway.IMPORTANCEHypochlorous acid (HOCl), commonly known as bleach, is generated during the respiratory burst by phagocytes and is a key weapon used to attack Candida albicans and other microbial pathogens. However, the effects of hypochlorous acid on C. albicans have been less well studied than H2O2, a different type of oxidant produced by phagocytes. HOCl kills C. albicans more effectively than H2O2 and results in disruption of the plasma membrane. HOCl induced a very different transcriptional response than H2O2, and there were significant differences in the susceptibility of mutant strains of C. albicans to these oxidants. Altogether, these results indicate that HOCl has distinct effects on cells that could be targeted in novel therapeutic strategies to enhance the killing of C. albicans and other pathogens.

Summary: Background: Chlorine-based disinfectants, such as bleach, are commonly used for cleaning in healthcare settings to prevent the transmission of nosocomial pathogens. To enhance the efficacy of disinfection, ultraviolet-C (UV-C) light systems have been proposed to supplement standard cleaning procedures. As bleach decomposes in UV light, we hypothesised that the use of UV-C light as an adjunct to manual cleaning with bleach, may decrease the efficacy of disinfection instead. Methods: In the laboratory, stainless steel sheets and plastic keyboards were inoculated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (∼106 CFU/ml) and subjected to treatment with either UV-C light only, bleach only or a combination of UV-C light and bleach. The residual bioburden (CFU/ml) was quantified through conventional microbiological techniques. Results were compared to non-exposed control surfaces and against each treatment strategy. Results: On tested surfaces, there were statistically significant reductions in P. aeruginosa when surfaces were treated with UV-C light only (>2.5 log10 reduction), bleach only (>5.6 log10 reduction) and a combination of UV-C light and bleach (>6.3 log10 reduction) compared to positive control (P < 0.001, all treatment strategies). No significant differences were observed when surfaces were treated with the addition of UV-C light to bleach compared to treatment with bleach alone. Conclusion: There was no difference in the efficacy of disinfection against P. aeruginosa with the combined treatment strategy of UV-C light and bleach compared to bleach alone under laboratory conditions. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the effectiveness of this technology on other healthcare-associated pathogens.

Abstract Studies on the microbiota of ticks have promoted hypotheses about the combined effects of the bacterial community, its functional contributions to the tick’s physiology or probable competition effects with some tick-borne pathogens. However, knowledge on the origin of the microbiota of newly hatched larvae is missing. This study aimed to elucidate the source(s) of the microbiota in unfed tick larvae, addressing the composition of the “core microbiota” and the best ways to decontaminate eggs for microbiota studies. We applied laboratory degree bleach washes and/or ultraviolet light treatments on engorged Rhipicephalus australis females and/or their eggs. No significant effects of these treatments on the reproductive parameters of females and the hatching rates of eggs were observed. However, the different treatments did show striking effects on the composition of the microbiota. The results indicated that bleach washes disrupted the internal tick microbiota in females, implying that bleach may have entered the tick and subsequently affected the microbiota. Furthermore, the analyses of results demonstrated that the ovary is a main source of tick microbiota, while the contribution of Gené’s organ (a part of the female reproductive system that secretes a protective wax coat onto tick eggs) or the male’s spermatophore requires further investigation. Further studies are needed to identify best practice protocols for the decontamination of ticks for microbiota studies. Graphical Abstract

Household cleaning and personal care products (HC&PCPs) are irreplaceable in most daily routines. However, data are sparse on chemical burns caused by HC&PCPs. We queried the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) from 2012 to 2021 to characterize chemical burns caused by HC&PCPs as well as the most common causative categories of HC&PCPs responsible for chemical burns. We found 2729 total emergency department (ED) visits due to chemical burn injuries within the years 2012–2021 due to HC&PCPs. Chemical burns disproportionally affect children ages four and under, accounting for 36.4% of all patients. Within this subpopulation, boys were more frequently affected by chemical burns and the eyes were the most affected area. The most common HC&PCPs involved in chemical burns in individuals ages one to four were laundry soaps and detergents (22.0%) and bleaches (21.3%). Children ages four and under are disproportionately affected by chemical burns due to non-intentional exposure of HC&PCPs, with laundry detergents and bleaches being the most common causative agents. Adequate storage of all HC&PCPs and improved parental supervision are paramount in preventing chemical burns in this age group. • There were 2729 total emergency department (ED) visits due to chemical burn injuries within the years 2012–2021. • Chemical burns disproportionally affect children ages four and under, accounting for 36.4% of all patients. • Laundry soaps and detergents (22.0%) and bleaches (21.3%) were the main causative agents of chemical burns in children ages one to four. • There is a need for more educational community outreach programs and campaigns to reduce the number of these injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corrosive substance attacks (CSA) are a prevalent issue in the UK with 525 offenses involving a corrosive substance reported to the police in the year ending March 2022. Easy availability, low cost, and concealability in public are common reasons for choosing a corrosive substance as a weapon. The Metropolitan Police revealed that 68% of 1849 CSA cases resulted in no suspect identified or evidential difficulties. There is limited research into the effect of corrosive substances on latent fingermarks. This study aimed to determine the potential for fingermarks to be recovered from surfaces exposed to a household corrosive substance within the context of a deliberate CSA. Natural and sebaceous‐loaded fingermarks were exposed to Domestos bleach, Harpic limescale remover (hydrochloric acid‐based) and lemon juice. Harpic limescale remover had the most detrimental effect, with only 7.1% of fingermarks (n = 378) exposed being identifiable (defined as sufficient clear ridge detail for identification) after enhancement, followed by bleach with only 10.3% of fingermarks (n = 378) identifiable. Lemon juice had the least detrimental effect on fingermarks, with 40.5% fingermarks (n = 378) identifiable compared to 53.4% for the controls (not exposed to any substance; n = 378). Throughout the study, fewer natural fingermarks were identifiable after exposure to corrosive substances compared to sebaceous fingermarks which was as expected. Overall, this study demonstrated that there is potential to recover latent fingermarks, depending on their composition, following exposure to a household corrosive substance. This area warrants further research to establish best practice to maximize the potential to recover identifiable fingermarks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Transactions of China Pulp & Paper is the property of China Pulp & Paper Magazines Publisher 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.)

The authors describe an unusual case of chemical sinusitis and orbital cellulitis secondary to a sodium hypochlorite accident in a patient who had just undergone root canal treatment. The patient presented with acute, progressive symptoms of unilateral maxillary sinusitis, facial cellulitis and orbital cellulitis which began hours after root canal treatment on the ipsilateral side. He was admitted to hospital under the care of the Otorhinolaryngology team and reviewed regularly by the Ophthalmologists. He underwent Endoscopic Sinus Surgery during his hospital stay. The intraoperative findings revealed necrotic sinus mucosa and slough within the involved maxillary sinus, which were suggestive of chemical burn injury induced by the highly alkaline sodium hypochlorite solution used during root canal treatment. He was treated postoperatively with regular nasal toilet, culture-directed antibiotics and topical ocular pressure-lowering eyedrops. He displayed a slow recovery with eventually no orbital sequelae, but experienced persistent cheek numbness three months post-injury. Severe chemical sinusitis with orbital cellulitis secondary to sodium hypochlorite accident is a rare complication of root canal treatment, with potentially severe consequences. It can present with symptoms similar to complicated acute bacterial sinusitis. Otorhinolaryngologists and dental surgeons should maintain a high index of suspicion when managing a patient post-root canal treatment with symptoms of unilateral sinusitis, facial cellulitis, orbital cellulitis and even airway compromise. This would allow prompt intervention before sight or life-threatening complications set in.

Necrophagous insect species are used in forensic entomology to assist with the estimation of the minimum post-mortem interval (PMImin). However, chemical substances applied to a corpse in a bid to conceal remains may affect the attractiveness of a corpse to insects and consequently the insect succession and decomposition. This study investigated the potential for two readily obtainable substances, hydrated lime and bleach to affect decomposition and associated insect succession in porcine remains outdoors and above ground during autumn, winter and spring in the Geelong region of Victoria, Australia. The substances were correlated with a significantly longer pre-appearance interval (PAI) (>12 hours) and delayed oviposition during colder months. Further, remains deposited during autumn and spring did not skeletonize when substances were present. These findings show the importance of considering the presence of bleach and hydrated lime on remains when estimating PMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on the microbiota of ticks have promoted hypotheses about the combined effects of the bacterial community, its functional contributions to the tick's physiology or probable competition effects with some tick-borne pathogens. However, knowledge on the origin of the microbiota of newly hatched larvae is missing. This study aimed to elucidate the source(s) of the microbiota in unfed tick larvae, addressing the composition of the "core microbiota" and the best ways to decontaminate eggs for microbiota studies. We applied laboratory degree bleach washes and/or ultraviolet light treatments on engorged Rhipicephalus australis females and/or their eggs. No significant effects of these treatments on the reproductive parameters of females and the hatching rates of eggs were observed. However, the different treatments did show striking effects on the composition of the microbiota. The results indicated that bleach washes disrupted the internal tick microbiota in females, implying that bleach may have entered the tick and subsequently affected the microbiota. Furthermore, the analyses of results demonstrated that the ovary is a main source of tick microbiota, while the contribution of Gené's organ (a part of the female reproductive system that secretes a protective wax coat onto tick eggs) or the male's spermatophore requires further investigation. Further studies are needed to identify best practice protocols for the decontamination of ticks for microbiota studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Transactions of China Pulp & Paper is the property of China Pulp & Paper Magazines Publisher 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.)

Abstract Introduction The spread of contradictory health information was a hallmark of the early COVID-19 pandemic. Because of a limited understanding of the disease, its mode of transmission, and its pathogenicity, the public turned to easily accessible and familiar sources of information. Some of these sources included wrong or incomplete information that could increase health risks and incidents of toxicity due to improper information about the usage of disinfectants. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between sources of information about the COVID-19 pandemic, the related household cleaning and disinfection practices among adult women living in Egypt, and the associated adverse effects of bleach toxicity during a national lockdown. Methods Through a self-administered online survey, 452 adult women (18 years and older) living in Egypt were recruited from 13 cities between 4 June 2022 and 4 July 2022 to answer the questionnaire. The questionnaire included (41) questions in Arabic and collected data about respondents' household cleaning and disinfection practices to prevent the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and protect their families during the lockdown that started in Egypt in March 2020. Results The study found that 88.1% (n = 398) of participants reported increased use of disinfectants during the lockdown. Women who chose social media as their primary source of information to learn about disinfection practices reported an increased frequency of respiratory symptoms associated with bleach toxicity (correlation coefficient = 0.10, p-value = 0.03), followed by women who depended on relatives and friends as the primary source of information (correlation coefficient = 0.10, p-value = 0.02). Conclusion This study showed that social media is an easily accessible, efficient and fast communication tool that can act as a primary source for individuals seeking medical information compared to other media platforms (e.g., websites, T.V., satellite channels). However, better regulations and monitoring of its content may help limit the harms caused by the misinformation and disinformation spread by these popular platforms, particularly in times of uncertainty and upheaval.

Despite the high death toll of the COVID-19 pandemic, reported rates of adherence to adaptive preventive health behaviours during the early wave of the pandemic were suboptimal for reducing the risk of disease spread. Additionally, some have adopted practices with the intention of preventing infection that have harmful consequences. Protection Motivation Theory (PMT), consisting of perceived vulnerability, severity, response efficacy, and self-efficacy, has been used to predict intentions to engage in behaviours in past pandemics, and can be extended to the COVID-19 outbreak. Three hundred and thirty-three American adults completed a survey in May 2020 through Amazon's Mechanical Turk. Ten behaviours recommended by the CDC and WHO and two 'maladaptive' behaviours presented in the media were selected for investigation. Binary logistic regressions were conducted to assess the impacts of demographic variables and PMT constructs on behaviour frequency. Perceived severity and vulnerability were not significant predictors of behaviour frequency. Behaviour specific response efficacy and self-efficacy were significant predictors of 11/12 (odds ratios: 2.70–6.22) and 10/12 (odds ratios: 2.59–4.64) behaviours, respectively. Age, gender, education, political ideology, perceived severity, and perceived vulnerability were generally unimportant predictors. Beliefs about the effectiveness of the behaviour and one's ability to carry out that behaviour consistently seem to be more important in predicting how often someone engages in that behaviour than the perceived dangerousness of COVID-19 and one's believed susceptibility to infection. These results suggest that interventions trying to modulate the likelihood of engaging in preventive behaviours should focus on the effectiveness of these behaviours in reducing risk of spread and the individual's ability to engage in these behaviours frequently rather than the dangerousness of the COVID-19 pandemic and the individual's risk of becoming infected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Various products are available for lightening hair. There are no data on which applications are actually used in hairdressing, impeding proper estimation of actual exposure and necessary preventive measures. Objectives: To assess information about availability, usage and formulation of lightening preparations in the German hairdressing trade. Methods: A market survey was conducted and hairdressers were surveyed by online questionnaires. Results: Of 783 hairdressers clicking the link, 565 hairdressers (91.2% female, mean age of 40.2 ± 11.7 years) from all German states responded (response rate: 72.2%). The questionnaire survey has shown that available hair‐lightening preparations in the German hairdressing trade are (multiple selection possible): dust‐free (88.5%) and non‐dust‐free bleaching powders (22.1%), bleaching creams (41.9%), high‐lifting hair colour creams (88.8%) and normal hair colour creams (58.4%). Five hundred eighteen (91.7%) hairdressers favour lightening hair with powder. The market survey revealed that bleaching powders and creams contain potassium persulfate, ammonium persulfate and sodium persulfate or combinations of these persulfate salts. Conclusions: Hairdressers are exposed to various hair‐lightening applications containing different chemicals. Preventive measures need to address adverse skin and respiratory effects. Implementation of targeted health education already in early career stages (i.e., apprenticeship) seems advisable and can be maintained by refresher trainings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The spread of contradictory health information was a hallmark of the early COVID-19 pandemic. Because of a limited understanding of the disease, its mode of transmission, and its pathogenicity, the public turned to easily accessible and familiar sources of information. Some of these sources included wrong or incomplete information that could increase health risks and incidents of toxicity due to improper information about the usage of disinfectants. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between sources of information about the COVID-19 pandemic, the related household cleaning and disinfection practices among adult women living in Egypt, and the associated adverse effects of bleach toxicity during a national lockdown. Methods: Through a self-administered online survey, 452 adult women (18 years and older) living in Egypt were recruited from 13 cities between 4 June 2022 and 4 July 2022 to answer the questionnaire. The questionnaire included (41) questions in Arabic and collected data about respondents' household cleaning and disinfection practices to prevent the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and protect their families during the lockdown that started in Egypt in March 2020. Results: The study found that 88.1% (n = 398) of participants reported increased use of disinfectants during the lockdown. Women who chose social media as their primary source of information to learn about disinfection practices reported an increased frequency of respiratory symptoms associated with bleach toxicity (correlation coefficient = 0.10, p-value = 0.03), followed by women who depended on relatives and friends as the primary source of information (correlation coefficient = 0.10, p-value = 0.02). Conclusion: This study showed that social media is an easily accessible, efficient and fast communication tool that can act as a primary source for individuals seeking medical information compared to other media platforms (e.g., websites, T.V., satellite channels). However, better regulations and monitoring of its content may help limit the harms caused by the misinformation and disinformation spread by these popular platforms, particularly in times of uncertainty and upheaval. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decontamination of surfaces and items plays an important role in reducing the spread of infectious microorganisms in many settings including hospitals and research institutes. Regardless of the location, appropriate decontamination procedures are required for maintaining biosafety and biosecurity. For example, effective decontamination of microbial cultures is essential to ensure proper biocontainment and safety within microbiological laboratories. To this end, many commercial decontamination agents are available which have been tested to a prescribed standard to substantiate their efficacy. However, these standardised tests are unlikely to accurately reflect many conditions encountered in medical and biomedical research. Despite this, laboratory workers and other users of decontamination agents may assume that all decontamination agents will work in all situations. We tested commonly used commercial decontamination agents against a range of bacterial species to determine their efficacy under real-world research laboratory conditions. As each decontamination agent has a different recommended dilution for use, to compare their efficacy we calculated their ‘effective ratio’ which reflects the difference between the manufacturer-recommended dilution and the dilution needed to achieve decontamination under real-world research laboratory conditions. Effective ratios above one indicate that the agent was effective at a dilution more dilute than recommended whereas effective ratios lower than one indicate that the agent required a higher concentration than recommended. Our results show that the quaternary ammonium agents TriGene Advance and Chemgene HLD4L were the most effective out of the agents tested, with biocidal activity measured at up to 64 times the recommended dilution. In contrast, hypochlorite (bleach) and Prevail™ (stabilised hydrogen peroxide) had the lowest effective ratios amongst the tested agents. In conclusion, our data suggests that not all decontamination agents will work at the recommended dilutions under real-world research laboratory conditions. We recommend that the protocols for the use of decontamination agents are verified under the specific conditions required to ensure they are fit for purpose.

Since its first employment in World War I, chlorine gas has often been used as chemical warfare agent. Unfortunately, after suspected release, it is difficult to prove the use of chlorine as a chemical weapon and unambiguous verification is still challenging. Furthermore, similar evidence can be found for exposure to chlorine gas and other, less harmful chlorinating agents. Therefore, the current study aims to use untargeted high resolution mass spectrometric analysis of chlorinated biomarkers together with machine learning techniques to be able to differentiate between exposure of plants to various chlorinating agents. Green spire (Euonymus japonicus), stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), and feathergrass (Stipa tenuifolia) were exposed to 1000 and 7500 ppm chlorine gas and household bleach, pool bleach, and concentrated sodium hypochlorite. After sample preparation and digestion, the samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography high resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS/MS) and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). More than 150 chlorinated compounds including plant fatty acids, proteins, and DNA adducts were tentatively identified. Principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) showed clear discrimination between chlorine gas and bleach exposure and grouping of the samples according to chlorine concentration and type of bleach. The identity of a set of novel biomarkers was confirmed using commercially available or synthetic reference standards. Chlorodopamine, dichlorodopamine, and trichlorodopamine were identified as specific markers for chlorine gas exposure. Fenclonine (Cl-Phe), 3-chlorotyrosine (Cl-Tyr), 3,5-dichlorotyrosine (di-Cl-Tyr), and 5-chlorocytosine (Cl-Cyt) were more abundantly present in plants after chlorine contact. In contrast, the DNA adduct 2-amino-6-chloropurine (Cl-Ade) was identified in both types of samples at a similar level. None of these chlorinated biomarkers were observed in untreated samples. The DNA adducts Cl-Cyt and Cl-Ade could clearly be identified even three months after the actual exposure. This study demonstrates the feasibility of forensic biomarker profiling in plants to distinguish between exposure to chlorine gas and bleach. [Display omitted] • Novel chlorinated biomarkers in vegetation were analyzed by LC-HRMS/MS. • LDA facilitated classification of plants exposed to either chlorine gas or bleach. • Chlorinated DNA and protein adducts were identified using reference standards. • DNA adducts in plants could be detected more than three months after exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxocara cati and T. canis are parasitic nematodes found in the intestines of cats and dogs respectively, with a cosmopolitan distribution, and the potential for anthropozoonotic transmission, resulting in human toxocariasis. Spread of Toxocara spp. is primarily through the ingestion of embryonated eggs contaminating surfaces or uncooked food, or through the ingestion of a paratenic host containing a third-stage larva. The Toxocara spp. eggshell is composed of a lipid layer providing a permeability barrier, a chitinous layer providing structural strength, and thin vitelline and uterine layers, which combined create a biologically resistant structure, making the Toxocara spp. egg very hardy, and capable of surviving for years in the natural environment. The use of sodium hypochlorite, household bleach, as a disinfectant for Toxocara spp. eggs has been reported, with results varying from ineffective to limited effectiveness depending on parameters including contact time, concentration, and temperature. Desiccation or humidity levels have also been reported to have an impact on larval development and/or survival of Toxocara spp. eggs. However, to date, after a thorough search of the literature, no relevant publications have been found that evaluated the use of sodium hypochlorite and desiccation in combination. These experiments aim to assess the effects of using a combination of desiccation and 10% bleach solution (0.6% sodium hypochlorite) on fertilized or embryonated eggs of T. cati, T. canis, and T. vitulorum. Results of these experiments highlight the synergistic effects of desiccation and bleach, and demonstrate a relatively simple method for surface inactivation, resulting in a decrease in viability or destruction of T. cati, T. canis and T. vitulorum eggs. Implications for these findings may apply to larger scale elimination of ascarid eggs from both research, veterinary, and farming facilities to mitigate transmission., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest ☒ The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. ☐ The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests:, (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Research on membranes and their associated processes was initiated in 1970 at the University of Paris XII/IUT de Créteil, which became in 2010 the University Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC). This research initially focused on the development and applications of pervaporation membranes, then concerned the metrology of ion-exchange membranes, then expanded to dialysis processes using these membranes, and recently opened to composite membranes and their applications in production or purification processes. Both experimental and fundamental aspects have been developed in parallel. This evolution has been reinforced by an opening to the French and European industries, and to the international scene, especially to the Krasnodar Membrane Institute (Kuban State University—Russia) and to the Department of Chemistry, (Qassim University—Saudi Arabia). Here, we first presented the history of this research activity, then developed the main research axes carried out at UPEC over the 2012–2022 period; then, we gave the main results obtained, and finally, showed the cross contribution of the developed collaborations. We avoided a chronological presentation of these activities and grouped them by theme: composite membranes and ion-exchange membranes. For composite membranes, we have detailed three applications: highly selective lithium-ion extraction, bleach production, and water and industrial effluent treatments. For ion-exchange membranes, we focused on their characterization methods, their use in Neutralization Dialysis for brackish water demineralization, and their fouling and antifouling processes. It appears that the research activities on membranes within UPEC are very dynamic and fruitful, and benefit from scientific exchanges with our Russian partners, which contributed to the development of strong membrane activity on water treatment within Qassim University. Finally, four main perspectives of this research activity were given: the design of autonomous and energy self-sufficient processes, refinement of characterization by Electrochemical Scanning Microscopy, functional membrane separators, and green membrane preparation and use.

Abstract Use of detergents and cleaning products puts women at risk due to hazardous chemical substances. Education of all women, especially pregnant and high‐risk women about the proper use of detergents, is a necessity.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB), specific infectious disease, affects most of the organs of the human body. Extrapulmonary TB manifests commonly as lymphadenopathy. Emergence of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome warrants the rapid diagnosis to limit its spread. Aim and Objectives: The application of bleach concentration method in detecting tubercle bacilli in the material obtained by fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of lymph nodes, evaluating sensitivity of bleach concentration method over conventional direct smear method in diagnosing tubercular lymphadenitis, detecting bacilli in the background of granuloma formation. Materials and Methods: The prospective, hospital-based, cross-sectional study was carried out in a study population of 78 patients where 15 cases got eliminated following the cytological diagnosis of malignancy and inadequacy of sample. Patients with lymphadenopathy underwent FNA after clinical examination, history taking, and informed consent. The aspirated material was stained with Leishman, H and E, conventional Ziehl−Neelsen (ZN), and bleach concentration method. Data were collected and statistical analysis done. Results: The predominant age group affected was (16–30) years with male preponderance. 44.44% cases were cytomorphologically diagnosed with tuberculous lymphadenitis. Acid-fast Bacilli (AFB) was found in 23 cases by conventional ZN method and 39 cases by bleach concentration method. Sensitivity of bleach method was 92.35% compared to 54.76% in conventional ZN method. Bacilli positivity was more in cases presenting with necrosis than with granuloma alone. Conclusion: Bleach method for detecting AFB is more sensitive than conventional ZN method. It is safe, inexpensive, easy to perform, requires no additional equipment, and safe to handle in laboratory.

To control and prevent the spread of the infectious agents in the environment and body, various measures have been taken, including the use of disinfectants for hands and surfaces, use of detergents, self-medication by herbal concoctions, and dietary supplements. Although these actions may have a therapeutic effect or reduce the viral load, incorrect use (abuse or overuse) could have negative health repercussions. Therefore, public awareness in this context is essential. The purpose of this narrative review was to evaluate the health consequences of overexposure to disinfectants and self-medication against infectious agents, specially SARS-CoV-2. The literature search for this review was conducted using related keywords in PubMed, Web of Science (WOS), and Scopus databases. This review found a significant number of reported poisoning cases during the pandemic as a result of the overuse of alcoholic hand sanitizers, household bleach products, and detergents. This paper also provides an integrated systemic overview of the possible toxic effects of self-medication, alcohol consumption, and self-administration of dietary supplements and herbs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The present review indicated that the main adverse effects associated with the overuse of popular preventative actions against contagious respiratory illnesses specially COVID-19 and Influenza (flu) were methanol intoxication, skin damage, respiratory problems, gastrointestinal ulcers, nausea, vomiting, epigastric pain, and liver injury. Due to the significant increase in the use of these preventative measures, it is essential to raise public awareness of the side effects of their excessive and unnecessary use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To control and prevent the spread of the infectious agents in the environment and body, various measures have been taken, including the use of disinfectants for hands and surfaces, use of detergents, self-medication by herbal concoctions, and dietary supplements. Although these actions may have a therapeutic effect or reduce the viral load, incorrect use (abuse or overuse) could have negative health repercussions. Therefore, public awareness in this context is essential. The purpose of this narrative review was to evaluate the health consequences of overexposure to disinfectants and self-medication against infectious agents, specially SARS-CoV-2. The literature search for this review was conducted using related keywords in PubMed, Web of Science (WOS), and Scopus databases. This review found a significant number of reported poisoning cases during the pandemic as a result of the overuse of alcoholic hand sanitizers, household bleach products, and detergents. This paper also provides an integrated systemic overview of the possible toxic effects of self-medication, alcohol consumption, and self-administration of dietary supplements and herbs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The present review indicated that the main adverse effects associated with the overuse of popular preventative actions against contagious respiratory illnesses specially COVID-19 and Influenza (flu) were methanol intoxication, skin damage, respiratory problems, gastrointestinal ulcers, nausea, vomiting, epigastric pain, and liver injury. Due to the significant increase in the use of these preventative measures, it is essential to raise public awareness of the side effects of their excessive and unnecessary use.

The COVID-19 pandemic has called for the increased use of disinfectants worldwide in public facilities, transportation, hospitals, nursing homes, wastewater treatment facilities, and even common households to mitigate virus burden. Active ingredients in common disinfectants recommended for use against COVID-19 viruses include chemicals such as quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), hydrogen peroxide, bleach (sodium hypochlorite), and alcohols. These disinfecting chemicals differ in their structures, properties, modes of action, environmental behaviors, and effects on human health upon exposure. Humans can be exposed to disinfecting chemicals mainly through dermal absorption, inhalation, and ingestion. The total exposure and relative contribution of each exposure route vary considerably among the disinfectants. QACs have been linked to occupational illnesses such as asthma and an increased risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), whereas excess use of bleach, hydrogen peroxide, or alcohol-based disinfectants can cause respiratory damage and has been linked to an increased risk of developing and controlling asthma. Recent studies showed that the presence of QACs in human blood has been associated with changes in health biomarkers such as an increase in inflammatory cytokines, decreased mitochondrial function, and disruption of cholesterol homeostasis in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, repeated human exposure to disinfectants during the pandemic has raised questions on exposure-related long-term health risks and occupational safety. Furthermore, in lieu of a lack of adequate knowledge and public awareness, these chemicals have been frequently used on porous surfaces, including fabrics/textiles and consumer plastics and even for disinfecting cloth facemasks, on which disinfectant chemical residues may persist for longer duration, causing potential degradation of plastic materials, releasing additives, and shedding microplastics. In addition, the increased use of these disinfectant chemicals and the subsequent discharge into wastewater may cause adverse impacts on aquatic ecosystems, accumulation on vegetables, and contamination of the food chain via wastewater irrigation and sludge application. This article provides a well-rounded understanding of the most common disinfectants and reviews modes of action of those disinfectants, their interactions with aquatic and terrestrial environments, the exposure to humans, and potential impacts to human health and safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Chlorine gas (Cl2) is a common substance used in industry, which causes toxic inhalation as a potent pulmonary irritant. Herein, we aimed to investigate the findings of pediatric cases accidentally exposed to Cl2 gas. Material and Methods:In October 2017, an accident involving Cl2 gas exposure occurred in a school where 650 students were trained. Results: Fifty students breathed in the steam generated in the school hallway as a result of an accident during cleaning The mean age of the patients was 11.2±1.5 years (range 2-18 years); 62% of the children were male. Among patients evaluated at the emergency department, 21 (42%) patients were discharged within 4-6 hours after the initial examination and symptomatic treatment. The remaining 29 patients were hospitalized. The presenting symptoms were mostly associated with one another, which included cough and dyspnea (n=30, 60%), nausea and vomiting (n=6, 12%), headache (n=7, 14%), and sore throat (n=3, 6%). Thirty patients had elevated creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) (mean 54.9±50.1 U/L). Five patients had sinus tachycardia on electrocardiogram. During the follow-up period, cardiac enzymes of all patients returned to normal levels. Seven patients were treated with steroids, bronchodilators, and humidified oxygen; 11 patients were treated with oxygen and bronchodilators; the remainders took oxygen alone. Conclusion: We suggest that this study will contribute to raising awareness about chemicals that can produce toxic substances, as in our cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background A household approach to decolonization decreases skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI) incidence, though this is burdensome and costly. As prior SSTI increases risk for SSTI, we hypothesized that the effectiveness of decolonization measures to prevent SSTI when targeted to household members with prior year SSTI would be noninferior to decolonizing all household members. Methods Upon completion of our 12-month observational Household Observation of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the Environment (HOME) study, 102 households were enrolled in HOME2, a 12-month, randomized noninferiority trial. Pediatric index patients with community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) SSTI, their household contacts, and pets were enrolled. Households were randomized 1:1 to the personalized (decolonization performed only by household members who experienced SSTI during the HOME study) or household (decolonization performed by all household members) approaches. The 5-day regimen included hygiene education, twice-daily intranasal mupirocin, and daily bleach-water baths. At 5 follow-up visits in participants' homes, swabs to detect S. aureus were collected from participants, environmental surfaces, and pets; incident SSTIs were ascertained. Results Noninferiority of the personalized approach was established for the primary outcome 3-month cumulative SSTI: 23 of 212 (10.8%) participants reported SSTI in household approach households, while 23 of 236 (9.7%) participants reported SSTI in personalized approach households (difference in proportions, −1.1% [95% confidence interval, −6.7% to 4.5%]). In multivariable analyses, prior year SSTI and baseline MRSA colonization were associated with cumulative SSTI. Conclusions The personalized approach was noninferior to the household approach in preventing SSTI. Future studies should interrogate longer durations of decolonization and/or decontamination of the household environment to reduce household MRSA burden. Clinical Trials Registration NCT01814371. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Intervening proteins, or inteins, are mobile genetic elements that are translated within host polypeptides and removed at the protein level by splicing. In protein splicing, a self-mediated reaction removes the intein, leaving a peptide bond in place. While protein splicing can proceed in the absence of external cofactors, several examples of conditional protein splicing (CPS) have emerged. In CPS, the rate and accuracy of splicing are highly dependent on environmental conditions. Because the activity of the intein-containing host protein is compromised prior to splicing and inteins are highly abundant in the microbial world, CPS represents an emerging form of posttranslational regulation that is potentially widespread in microbes. Reactive chlorine species (RCS) are highly potent oxidants encountered by bacteria in a variety of natural environments, including within cells of the mammalian innate immune system. Here, we demonstrate that two naturally occurring RCS, namely, hypochlorous acid (the active compound in bleach) and N-chlorotaurine, can reversibly block splicing of DnaB inteins from Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium smegmatis in vitro. Further, using a reporter that monitors DnaB intein activity within M. smegmatis, we show that DnaB protein splicing is inhibited by RCS in the native host. DnaB, an essential replicative helicase, is the most common intein-housing protein in bacteria. These results add to the growing list of environmental conditions that are relevant to the survival of the intein-containing host and influence protein splicing, as well as suggesting a novel mycobacterial response to RCS. We propose a model in which DnaB splicing, and therefore replication, is paused when these mycobacteria encounter RCS. IMPORTANCE Inteins are both widespread and abundant in microbes, including within several bacterial and fungal pathogens. Inteins are domains translated within host proteins and removed at the protein level by splicing. Traditionally considered molecular parasites, some inteins have emerged in recent years as adaptive posttranslational regulatory elements. Several studies have demonstrated CPS, in which the rate and accuracy of protein splicing, and thus host protein functions, are responsive to environmental conditions relevant to the intein-containing organism. In this work, we demonstrate that two naturally occurring RCS, including the active compound in household bleach, reversibly inhibit protein splicing of Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium smegmatis DnaB inteins. In addition to describing a new physiologically relevant condition that can temporarily inhibit protein splicing, this study suggests a novel stress response in Mycobacterium, a bacterial genus of tremendous importance to humans.

Decontamination of surfaces and items plays an important role in reducing the spread of infectious microorganisms in many settings including hospitals and research institutes. Regardless of the location, appropriate decontamination procedures are required for maintaining biosafety and biosecurity. For example, effective decontamination of microbial cultures is essential to ensure proper biocontainment and safety within microbiological laboratories. To this end, many commercial decontamination agents are available which have been tested to a prescribed standard to substantiate their efficacy. However, these standardised tests are unlikely to accurately reflect many conditions encountered in medical and biomedical research. Despite this, laboratory workers and other users of decontamination agents may assume that all decontamination agents will work in all situations. We tested commonly used commercial decontamination agents against a range of bacterial species to determine their efficacy under real-world research laboratory conditions. As each decontamination agent has a different recommended dilution for use, to compare their efficacy we calculated their 'effective ratio' which reflects the difference between the manufacturer-recommended dilution and the dilution needed to achieve decontamination under real-world research laboratory conditions. Effective ratios above one indicate that the agent was effective at a dilution more dilute than recommended whereas effective ratios lower than one indicate that the agent required a higher concentration than recommended. Our results show that the quaternary ammonium agents TriGene Advance and Chemgene HLD4L were the most effective out of the agents tested, with biocidal activity measured at up to 64 times the recommended dilution. In contrast, hypochlorite (bleach) and PrevailTM (stabilised hydrogen peroxide) had the lowest effective ratios amongst the tested agents. In conclusion, our data suggests that not all decontamination agents will work at the recommended dilutions under real-world research laboratory conditions. We recommend that the protocols for the use of decontamination agents are verified under the specific conditions required to ensure they are fit for purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the first X‐ray single crystal structures of hypochlorite (ClO−) and hypobromite (BrO−) salts, including hydrated sodium hypochlorite, a staple of the chlorine industry and ubiquitous bleaching and disinfection agent for almost 200 years. The structures, supported by variable‐temperature Raman spectroscopy on individual crystals and periodic density‐functional theory (DFT) calculations, provide insight into solid‐state geometry and supramolecular chemistry of hypohalite ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inhibition performance of an aqueous extract of Cynara cardunculus leaves on the corrosion of St37 steel immersed in seawater and seawater with bleach was investigated using weight loss measurements, electrochemical methods, and surface characterization techniques. It was found that the extract components acted primarily as a mixed-type inhibitor, and inhibition efficiency increased with increasing inhibitor concentration. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and dynamic electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (DEIS) confirmed the formation of a protective layer on the metallic surface in both solutions. The adsorption of inhibiting molecules conformed to the Langmuir isotherm model. The thermodynamic parameter values indicated that chemisorption constituted the major contribution to the adsorption process. This result was corroborated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyses. The significant inhibition effect can be related to the large amount of phenolic compounds in the CC aqueous extract as revealed by the Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on French Poison Control Centre (PCC) call characteristics. Reported cases of xenobiotic exposures from 1 March to 30 April in 2018, 2019, and 2020 were extracted from the French National Database of Poisonings. The collected data included call, patient, and exposure characteristics for both general calls and for calls involving sentinel xenobiotic categories related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020 exposures were compared to 2018–2019 exposures by using simple logistic models in order to provide effect size with odds ratios. From March to April 2020, 32,182 exposures were reported to French PCCs with an overall increase of 5.6% compared to exposures in the same time frame in 2018–2019. A similar increase in calls was observed in non-epidemic and epidemic COVID-19 areas with an increase in calls from the public (+13.6%) while calls from health-professionals decreased (−7.5%). Despite the increase in exposures, the incidence of symptomatic exposures remained stable (−0.4%) with a decrease in severity (moderate/severe −17.2%). A significant increase in exposures to home cleaning products containing biocides, essential oils, and alcohol-based hand sanitizers (odds ratio >1.3, p <.0001) was observed. The COVID-19 pandemic altered calls to French PCCs with a small increase in calls during the study period and changes in the pattern of exposure. These changes possibly reflected the indirect consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic i.e., limited access to primary care, fear of contracting COVID-19 and anxiety related to home isolation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypochlorite is often used as a disinfestant of fungal pathogens in a range of agricultural and horticultural settings. However, reports of its effectiveness are variable across studies and it is unclear what factors could potentially influence the reported estimates of its efficacy. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to assess the efficacy of hypochlorite against fungal pathogens and explore factors that may explain the observed heterogeneity in estimates of efficacy. Standardized mean effect size, Hedges' g, was calculated for each of the 109 selected studies, published from 1972 to 2019, that met the criteria defined for the systematic review. A random-effects model was used to estimate the overall mean effect size (̅g+) and determine the heterogeneity in g among studies. Hypochlorite resulted in a significant (P < 0.001) reduction in either disease intensity or propagule viability with ̅g+ = 2.25, suggesting a large overall effect. However, 95% prediction intervals ranged from -0.18 to 4.68, indicating that hypochlorite could be ineffective against some fungi or when targeting some substrate materials. An estimate of the within-study variability, τ², was 1.48 and the proportion of heterogeneity in g among studies due to true effects was 71.5%. Inclusion of categorical moderator variables in the random effects model showed that hypochlorite treatments were significantly (P < 0.0062) more effective when used to disinfest spores in an aqueous solution (̅g+ = 4.58) than when used on plastic (̅g+ = 2.13), plant (̅g+ = 2.13), and wood (̅g+ = 0.79). Similarly, hypochlorite treatments were significantly (P < 0.0083) more effective in disinfesting fungal propagules of Thielaviopsis spp. (̅g+ = 2.51) than those of Verticillium spp. (̅g+ = 1.21). A meta-regression indicated that the effect of dose (b = -3.54; P = 0.0398) and contact time (β = -0.05; P = 0.0001) on ̅g+ were highly significant. Further, ̅g+ was significantly affected by the dose × time interaction (β = -0.017; P = 0.0269). In the meta-regression models, dose and time explained 0 and 16% of the variance in true effects, respectively. In meta-regression models with a continuous variable of dose or time, a categorical variable of target or genus and their interaction term, genus and target explained an additional 7 to 19% of the variance in true effects. These results show that although the current recommended dose and contact time for commercial bleach products are expected to result in effective disinfestation, the target material and genera of the fungal pathogen of interest will likely influence their efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public events are confronted with public-health challenges such as the risk of the spread of infectious diseases. Laundering should make clothing visibly clean and reduce the risk of transmission of infectious illnesses, especially during mass-gathering events. The present study evaluates the effectiveness of the laundering process for household linen using detergent either with or without chlorine bleach or with both. The study was conducted on 30 household linen samples of cotton clothes collected from 10 buildings. The antibacterial activity of these textile samples was determined after frequent laundering using detergent, bleach, or both. Results showed that bleach inhibition achieved a higher reduction in the bacterial count when compared to that of the detergent. For Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, the maximal percentage of bacterial-count reduction was 99.7% and 99.6%, respectively, when both detergent and bleach were used with five-time washes. The bacterial count of S. aureus and E. coli showed a significant difference (p > 0.05) versus the frequency of washing. It was concluded that laundry is important in reducing the transmission of bacterial infections via household linen. The inhibition results were more effective when bleach was used with detergent. The best hygienic cleaning of laundering is achieved by a combination of rinsing, detergent, and chemical action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Home care (HC) aide visits to clients' homes often involve cleaning and disinfecting (C&D) bathrooms. Some ingredients in C&D household products are associated with respiratory illness, including sodium hypochlorite (bleach) and quaternary ammonium compounds (quats). "Green" products may be safer for the environment, however there are limited quantitative evaluations of their respiratory risks. This study assessed airborne concentrations and time profiles of total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) and chlorine generated during typical bathroom cleaning performed by aides using conventional and green products. Aides performed cleaning tasks in a simulated residential bathroom constructed in an environmental air sampling laboratory. A balanced experimental design involved each aide coming to the lab for four visits during which she performed two 20-min cleaning sessions using one of three C&D products (bleach-based, 1–5% sodium hypochlorite by weight; quats-based, 0.1–1% by weight quaternary ammonium compounds; and "green," 0.05% by weight thymol, a component of botanical thyme oil) or distilled water as a control. TVOC and chlorine direct reading instruments were attached to aides with sample inlets located in the breathing zone. Ten-second averages of TVOC and chlorine gas concentrations and instantaneous peak concentrations were recorded for the sessions' duration. TVOC concentrations by methods of C&D application (spraying, streaming, wiping) also were evaluated. The study completed 169 air sampling sessions with 22 aides. The quats-based product generated more than twice the average TVOC concentrations (mean = 1,210 ppb) than the bleach-based (mean = 593 ppb) or green (mean = 498 ppb) products. Each product generated TVOC concentrations that rose rapidly within the first few minutes of application. Spraying produced the highest TVOC exposures, wiping the lowest. Thirteen aides (65%) experienced peak chlorine exposures above the OSHA PEL ceiling limit (1 ppm) when using the bleach-based product. HC aides may experience respiratory hazards from use of conventional or green C&D products formulated with bleach or other respiratory irritants and sprayed in small, poorly ventilated spaces typical of bathrooms. Spraying should be avoided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calls to poison control about exposure to household cleaners have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. This dynamic may reflect increased exposure from public health efforts as well as health misinformation shared on social media. We analyzed the dynamics of calls to the Regional Center for Poison Control and Prevention serving Massachusetts and Rhode Island (MARI PCC) and tweets discussing treating COVID-19 with house cleaners from January 20, 2020 to May 5, 2020. We obtained publicly available tweets discussing the use of household cleaners to "cure COVID" from the same time period with geographic co-ordinates indicating that they were emitted from the Greater Boston Area. Our main finding is that public health efforts were followed by a sustained increase in calls after March 15, 2020 (10 ± 2 calls per day before to 15 ± 2.5 after) while misinformation on social media was associated with intermittent spikes in calls. Overall, calls significantly increased during the study period by 34% as compared to the previous 8 years, mostly reporting unintentional ingestions with no serious effects. The daily volume of tweets and retweets was significantly correlated with daily call rates to MARI PCC for the surrounding 7–10 days. Health misinformation on social media about using household cleaning agents to treat COVID-19 and public health efforts lead to different dynamics in PCC calls. Public health efforts were followed by a sustained increase in calls after March 15, 2020 while misinformation on social media was followed by intermittent spikes in calls. This analysis is the first to link the geospatial dynamics of social media and public health interventions to poison center calls about exposure to household cleaners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With an increasing use of indoor disinfectants such as chlorine (Cl2) and hypochlorous acid, a convenient sampler for estimating exposure to oxidants, such as effective chlorine, is necessary. Here, we developed a personal passive air sampler (PPAS) composed of a redox dye, o‐dianisidine, in a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) sheet. o‐Dianisidine readily reacts with gaseous oxidants generated by bleach usage, and its color changes as the reaction progresses; hence, personal exposure to effective chlorine could be easily detected by the naked eye, while cumulative exposure could be determined by measuring concentrations of o‐dianisidine reacting with it. The PPAS was calibrated, and a sampling rate of 0.00253 m3/h was obtained using a small test chamber. The PPAS was tested with the help of ten volunteers whose personal exposure to Cl2‐equivalent gas was estimated after bathrooms were cleaned using spray and liquid‐type household disinfection products, and the accumulated exposure‐gas concentrations ranged from 69 to 408 ppbv and 148 to 435 ppbv, respectively. These PPAS‐derived exposure concentrations were approximately two orders lower than those estimated using ConsExpo, suggesting a significant overestimation by prevailing screening models, possibly due to the ignorance of transformation reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Room‐temperature cleaning of textiles is commonly practiced in many countries for energy saving as well as custom in daily life, but not very effective for removing colored contaminants. In this work, it was proposed to combine surfactant action (SA) with peroxide activation (PA) in a peroxide activator to enable cleaning of textiles at room temperature. N‐[4‐(alkyldimethylammoniomethyl)benzoyl]lactam chloride was designed and synthesized as a prototype of the proposed peroxide activator, in which the alkyl chain with a carbon atom number of n was responsible for surfactant action and the N‐benzoyllactam with a carbon atom number of m in the lactam ring was responsible for peroxide activation. Such a peroxide activator was hereby referred to as SAPAm‐n. The room‐temperature cleaning performance of SAPAm‐n was examined by cotton fabrics contaminated with morin and waste engine oil, respectively. It was found that SAPAm‐n was able to activate hydrogen peroxide released from sodium perborate so as to effectively bleach the morin‐contaminated cotton fabric at room temperature. Though extending the alkyl chain length of SAPAm‐n resulted in no apparent effect on the room‐temperature bleaching performance, it enhanced the surfactant action which contributed to removing oily contaminants from textiles. Color‐safe performance of SAPAm‐n was evaluated by cleaning a dyed cotton fabric at room temperature. It was found that the peroxide bleach activated by SAPAm‐n resulted in no apparent color change of the dyed cotton fabric. The results of this study provide new insights on textile cleaning at room temperature for the purpose of energy saving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different types of milling equipment – such as oscillating ball mills, freezer mills, mortar and pestle – can be used to fragment ancient bone prior to DNA extraction. However, each of these tools is associated with practical drawbacks. Here, we present the design for a stainless-steel mortar and pestle, with a removable sleeve to contain bone material. The tool is easy to clean, practical and its simplicity allows university workshops equipped with a lathe, boring tools and a milling machine to make these components at local expense. This design allows for the efficient fragmentation of ancient bone and improves sample throughput. This design is recommended as a useful, economical addition to existing laboratory equipment for the handling of ancient bone.

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Indonesia is one of the high burden tuberculosis (TB) countries. The utilization of molecular diagnostic has been setting over the country, however there are still a lot of remote areas that only depend on microscopic smear. Bleach might be used to increase the value of microscopy diagnos- tic. The study aimed to evaluate the added value of 1% bleach to increase the positivity rate of TB compared to conventional stain. This study was conducted on 70 subjects who were suspected as TB from various pri- mary care centers in West Java and Banten, Indonesia. The sputum was 2-3 mL, and divided into two parts, both of them were stained using Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN), however the first was only stained and the second added 1% bleach. Bleach was added in same volume with sputum and incubated for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, the spu- tum was stained with ZN. The positivity rate for ZN only was 39 (55.7%) compared to 1% bleach was 63 (90%), and significant- ly different (P=0.000) using Mann-Whitney U test. Bleach can be used as an alternative agent to improve the TB smear in setting that only depends on microscopy diagnostic.

Use of detergents and cleaning products puts women at risk due to hazardous chemical substances. Education of all women, especially pregnant and high‐risk women about the proper use of detergents, is a necessity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypochlorous acid (HOCl; bleach) is a powerful weapon used by our immune system to eliminate invading bacteria. Yet the way HOCl actually kills bacteria and how they defend themselves from its oxidative action have only started to be uncovered. As this molecule induces both protein oxidation and aggregation, bacteria need concerted efforts of chaperones and antioxidants to maintain proteostasis during stress. Recent advances in the field identified several stress-activated chaperones, like Hsp33, RidA, and CnoX, which display unique structural features and play a central role in protecting the bacterial proteome during HOCl stress.

Importance: Hypochlorous acid (HOCl), commonly known as bleach, is generated during the respiratory burst by phagocytes and is a key weapon used to attack Candida albicans and other microbial pathogens. However, the effects of hypochlorous acid on C. albicans have been less well studied than H 2 O 2 , a different type of oxidant produced by phagocytes. HOCl kills C. albicans more effectively than H 2 O 2 and results in disruption of the plasma membrane. HOCl induced a very different transcriptional response than H 2 O 2 , and there were significant differences in the susceptibility of mutant strains of C. albicans to these oxidants. Altogether, these results indicate that HOCl has distinct effects on cells that could be targeted in novel therapeutic strategies to enhance the killing of C. albicans and other pathogens.

Background: Chlorine-based disinfectants, such as bleach, are commonly used for cleaning in healthcare settings to prevent the transmission of nosocomial pathogens. To enhance the efficacy of disinfection, ultraviolet-C (UV-C) light systems have been proposed to supplement standard cleaning procedures. As bleach decomposes in UV light, we hypothesised that the use of UV-C light as an adjunct to manual cleaning with bleach, may decrease the efficacy of disinfection instead., Methods: In the laboratory, stainless steel sheets and plastic keyboards were inoculated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (∼10 6 CFU/ml) and subjected to treatment with either UV-C light only, bleach only or a combination of UV-C light and bleach. The residual bioburden (CFU/ml) was quantified through conventional microbiological techniques. Results were compared to non-exposed control surfaces and against each treatment strategy., Results: On tested surfaces, there were statistically significant reductions in P. aeruginosa when surfaces were treated with UV-C light only (>2.5 log 10 reduction), bleach only (>5.6 log 10 reduction) and a combination of UV-C light and bleach (>6.3 log 10 reduction) compared to positive control ( P < 0.001, all treatment strategies). No significant differences were observed when surfaces were treated with the addition of UV-C light to bleach compared to treatment with bleach alone., Conclusion: There was no difference in the efficacy of disinfection against P. aeruginosa with the combined treatment strategy of UV-C light and bleach compared to bleach alone under laboratory conditions. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the effectiveness of this technology on other healthcare-associated pathogens., (© 2023 The Authors.)