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Watts MJ, Argyraki A, Barbieri M, Brown A, Button M, Finkelman R, Gibson G, Humphrey O, Huo X, Hursthouse AS, Kaninga B, Marinho Reis P, Middleton DRS, Morton-Bermea O, Nazarpour A, Olatunji AS, Osano O, Potgieter-Vermaak S, Prater C, Torrance K, Wong MH, Zhang C, Zia M. Editorial: The society for environmental geochemistry and health (SEGH): 50 years and beyond. Environ Geochem Health 2023; 45:1165-1171. [PMID: 35044549 PMCID: PMC8768439 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-021-01192-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
When the SEGH international board released a short editorial paper back in 2019, we described an aim to increase the membership offering, whilst improving the diversity of input regionally, by scientific discipline and to ensure greater and more regular contact across the regions from 2020 onwards. Wider aspirations described in 2019 (Watts et al. 2019) are discussed within this short communication at the end of 2021 to evaluate progress made. In particular, how the SEGH community adapted to the unprecedented circumstances that have challenged each and every one of us throughout the COVID-19 pandemic since early 2020 and are likely to influence our activities for the foreseeable future.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. J. Watts
- Inorganic Geochemistry, British Geological Survey, Nottingham, UK
| | - A. Argyraki
- Department of Geology and Geoenvironment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | - A. Brown
- SEGH, British Geological Survey, Nottingham, UK
| | - M. Button
- University British Columbia, Kalowna, Canada
| | | | - G. Gibson
- Gibson Consulting and Training, Tarporley, UK
| | - O. Humphrey
- Inorganic Geochemistry, British Geological Survey, Nottingham, UK
| | - X. Huo
- School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | | | - B. Kaninga
- Zambia Agriculture Research Institute, Mount Makulu Central Research Station, P/B 7, Chilanga, Zambia
| | - P. Marinho Reis
- Departamento de Ciências da Terra, Escola de Ciências, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtarl, Braga, Portugal
| | - D. R. S. Middleton
- Centre for Public Health, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - O. Morton-Bermea
- Instituto ed Geofísica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - A. Nazarpour
- Department of Geology, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz Branch, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - A. S. Olatunji
- Department of Geology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - O. Osano
- Department of Environmental Biology and Health, School of Environmental Studies, University of Eldoret, Eldoret, Kenya
| | | | - C. Prater
- Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, USA
| | | | - M. H. Wong
- The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - C. Zhang
- National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - M. Zia
- Fauji Fertiliser Company Ltd, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
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Naqvi Q, Ratova M, Klaysri R, Kelly P, Edge M, Potgieter-Vermaak S, Tosheva L. Tuning the composition of porous resin-templated TiO2 macrobeads for optimized photocatalytic performance. Catal Today 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cattod.2018.06.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Brown A, Barrett JES, Robinson H, Potgieter-Vermaak S. Risk assessment of exposure to particulate output of a demolition site. Environ Geochem Health 2015; 37:675-687. [PMID: 26173774 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-015-9747-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2014] [Accepted: 07/08/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Whilst vehicular and industrial contributions to the airborne particulate budget are well explored, the input due to building demolition is relatively unknown. Air quality is of importance to human health, and it is well known that composition of airborne particles can have a significant influence on both chronic and acute health effects. Road dust (RD) was collected before and after the demolition of a large building to elucidate changes in elemental profile. Rainfall and PM10 mass concentration data aided interpretation of the elemental data. Quantification of Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Rh, S, Si, Sn, Ti, V and Zn was carried out. It was found that only Al, K, Mg, Si and S increased in concentration across all size fractions after the building demolition. Risk assessment was then carried out on elements with applicable reference dose values to assess the potential health risks due to the demolition. Significant risk to children was observed for chromium and aluminium exposure. PM10, monitored 40 metres from the demolition site, indicated no abnormal concentrations during the demolition; however, rainfall data were shown to affect the concentration of PM10. The elemental data observed in this study could possibly indicate the role of increased sulphur concentrations (in this case as a result of the demolition) on the buffer capacity of RD, hence leaching metals into rainwater.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Brown
- Division of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, M1 5GD, UK,
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Potgieter-Vermaak S, Rotondo G, Novakovic V, Rollins S, Van Grieken R. Component-specific toxic concerns of the inhalable fraction of urban road dust. Environ Geochem Health 2012; 34:689-696. [PMID: 23053928 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-012-9488-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2011] [Accepted: 05/01/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Continuous global urbanisation causes an ever-growing ecological footprint of pollution. Road dust (RD), one of these pollutants, poses a health concern due to carcinogenic and toxic components potentially present in the micron-sized fractions. The literature reports on the concentrations of trace, toxic metals and metalloids present in RD (Hooker and Nathanail in Chem Geol 226:340-351, 2006), but the literature on its molecular composition is limited. Recent reports on the bioaccessibility of platinum group metals are also reported (Colombo et al. in Chem Geol 226:340-351, 2008). In vitro and animal toxicological studies confirmed that the chemical composition of inhaled particles plays a major role in its toxic, genotoxic and carcinogenic mechanisms, but the component-specific toxic effects are still not understood. Particle-bound airborne transition metals can also lead to the production of reactive oxygen species in lung tissue; a special concern amongst particularly susceptible cohorts (children and elderly). The characterisation of the molecular composition of the fine fraction is evidently of importance for public health. During a pilot study, partially characterised size-fractioned RD samples (Barrett et al. in Eviron Sci Technol 44:2940-2946, 2010) were analysed for their elemental concentration using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. In addition, separately dispersed particles (200 particles per size fraction) were analysed individually by means of computer-controlled electron probe X-ray micro-analysis (CC-EPXMA) and their molecular structure probed by studying elemental associations. These were correlated with micro-Raman spectroscopy (MRS) results. It was found that the fine fraction (<38 μm) had the highest Pb (238 ppm) and Cr (171 ppm) concentrations. The CC-EPXMA data showed >50 % association of Cr-rich particles with Pb, and the MRS data showed that the Cr was mostly present as lead chromate and therefore in the Cr(VI) oxidation state. Concentrations of both Pb and Cr decreased substantially (279 (<38 μm)-13 ppm (<1 mm); 171 (<38 μm)-91 ppm (< 1 mm), respectively) in the larger fractions. Apart from rather alarmingly high concentrations of oxidative stressors (Cu, Fe, Mn), the carcinogenic and toxic potential of the inhalable fraction is evident. Preliminary bioaccessibility data indicated that both Cr and Pb are readily mobilised in artificial lysosomal liquid and up to 19 % of Cr and 47 % of Pb were released.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Potgieter-Vermaak
- Division of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, M1 5GD, UK.
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